Hayti by W. Jay Tanner

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jan 4, 1906

Hayti

By W. Jay Tanner

The Protestant element in this republic is very small—not over two thousand at the most, and the number of those who speak English falls below this.

One of the most perplexing things to deal with in respect to selling books, or anything else, for that matter, is the fluctuating value of Haytian money on exchange. There is no certainty from one day to another what exchange will be. When I desire to get American money exchanged for Haytian, I may find that to-day I can get six dollars for one dollar United States, and to-morrow that I can get only $5.50, and the next day it may be down to five, or even four, and then suddenly fly back to six.

With these conditions existing, it is very difficult to get the people to buy anything on the subscription plan; and it is also difficult to get any one to sell on a rise on

exchange. And this seems to affect cash sales to a certain extent, also; for it makes the people reluctant about purchasing any more than they absolutely need. For this same reason, merchants refuse to do much importing, and consequently many articles of common necessity can scarcely be obtained here.

I feel that I am making progress in the French. I am able to hold conversation in the language, to a limited extent, and as fast as I learn anything that I can make use of in our meetings, I do so, partly for the benefit I may derive from practise, and partly for the encouragement of our people, who are anxious to see me make progress.

W. Jay Tanner.