XV 
SANTO DOMINGO 
The Dominican Republic occupies the 
eastern and larger section of the island known 
as Santo Domingo or Haiti. 
This island was discovered by Columbus on 
his first voyage December 6, 1492. The 
peaceable aborigines whom he found on land 
ing were so abused under the Spanish rule, 
that by the year 1500 fully 90 per cent, had 
died and the colonists turned to Africa for 
slaves to work their estates, 4000 being brought 
here in 1517. 
French, Dutch and English buccaneers 
made this island their rendezvous owing to its 
favorable location. France recognized them 
as constituting a state in 1630 and gave them 
the protection of the home government. In 
1697 France secured control over the western 
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