DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. - It occupies the eastern part (about two-thirds) of Columbus's Hispaniola, now commonly called the island of Haiti. It covers 50,000 sq. km. and has (1947 estimate) 2.2 million inhabitants (44 per sq. km.).
The country is not lacking in resources (metals, phosphates, petroleum), though these are still very little exploited; it produces chiefly sugar, cocoa, coffee, tobacco, fine woods, etc. Independent since 27 February 1844, it was occupied by the U.S.A. between 1916 and 1934; it is a unitary republic (divided into 18 provinces and 1 federal district), representative in character, with a bicameral parliament and direct universal suffrage. The capital, Ciudad Trujillo (founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496 under the name of S. Domingo), is the only city with more than 100,000 inhabitants.
EVANGELIZATION OF THE D.R. - The history of Christianity in Santo Domingo begins with the arrival of Christopher Columbus on 6 December 1492. On his second expedition in 1493, he was accompanied by Bernardo Boyl of the Minims, three Franciscans and two