Ha?ti as it Is: Being Notes of Five Months' Sojourn in the North and North-West of Ha?t

Haïti As It Is: Being Notes Of Five Months' Sojourn In The North And North-West Of Haït by Robert S. E. Hepburn. This 19th-century travelogue records Hepburn's five-month observations of Haiti's northern and north-western regions, focusing on political change, commerce, society, and natural resources. He portrays the transition from the Faustin I regime to a Geffrard-led government, assessing governance, civil liberties, and the prospects for national progress, while comparing Haiti's condition with other Caribbean states. The work includes vivid itineraries through Port-au-Prince, St. Marc, Gonaives, Cap-Haitien, Mole St. Nicholas, and Jean Rabel, detailing town structures, harbors, agriculture, schools, religion, and social issues such as concubinage and duelling. Hepburn also offers geological surveys of the island's north, describing raised beaches, rock formations, and mineral prospects such as copper, iron, and coal-like lignite. The narrative blends scientific observation with policy critique and an appeal for reform and immigration-based development to foster Haiti's advancement.