SANTO DOMINGO  , the

capital of the republic of the same name, in the island of Haiti, West Indies . Pop. about 25,000 . It is situated on the S. coast, at the mouth of the river Ozama . Founded in 1496, it is the oldest existing settlement of white men in the New World, and perhaps the most perfect example of a Spanish colonial town of the 16th century . It is surrounded by ancient walls with bastions . The streets are straight, narrow,and intersect at right angles . The massive houses are built of stone with coloured walls pierced with huge doors and windows . The cathedral, in the Spanish Renaissance style, dates from 1512, and contains the reputed tomb of Columbus (q.v.) . The cell in which he and his brother were confined by order of Bobadilla is still shown in the old fortress . The city is the seat of an archbishop . It has a small and rather poor harbour, but the river is navigable for 4 M. from its mouth . The climate is healthy and cool .