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[[preprinted]] 110 [[/preprinted]] [[pencil]] Dominican Rep. 3. [[/pencil]]

From here on the road kept getting better and all streams were bridged. From San Juan to Azua the road followed a large river in a large plain. This could be properly called a desert, as only mesquite and cactus in much evidence. It is very rocky, - mostly showing conglomerates and muds, etc. In this stretch the road began to get wash-boardy. It kept getting worse practically to Santo Domingo. I tried to speed over the tops but almost lost control as I couldn't keep either my feet or my hands where they belonged. By riding on the extreme left of the road, often clear off the edge, I managed to get along with only the sidecar jiggling. My arms and hands soon got so tired that I doubted if I would keep it up to S.D. At one place between Bani and San Cristobal they are building a large bridge. It is nearly finished but I had to take the temporary road, over one bridge and fording two smaller branches of the rivers. Just outside of San Cristobal is a fine piece of concrete! I speeded up hopefully, but in about a mile it gave way to washboard again. By this time it was dark so I had to more careful of chuck-holes and pedestrians.

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[[preprinted]] 111 [[/preprinted]]

About fifteen miles out of S.D. I came to a good asphalt surface. It was a great relief and lasted clear into town. After asking the way to the hotel Senor several times, I found myself in the general vicinity but couldn't pick out the boarding-house. Then I saw the U.S. coat-of-arms on a house. It turned out to be the American Legation. They showed my the place almost across the street and I finally pulled in at 7[[underlined]]45[[/underlined]]. Madame Senor gave me a room and I ate dinner at a separate table so that I wouldn't have to change my clothes. This is supposed to be the best place in town, but I'm glad Ruth stayed in Haiti. This room is not very clean and the air is damp so that things do not dry out readily. This makes it seem even less clean. It doesn't pretend to be a hotel, - no stationery, guests all eat at the same table, linen isn't replaced every day, etc., etc. I went to bed right away and slept fairly well. The room is screened and I used a mosquito-bar but still one or two got at me. Screens seem to be quite a luxury in these countries, but a second rate job is not of great use.