The Republic of Haiti, occupying the western one third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea between Puerto Rica and Cuba, has an area of 10,714 sq. mi. (27,750 sq. km.) and a population of 7.82 million. Capital: Port-au-Prince. The economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing and tourism which are becoming increasingly important. Coffee, bauxite, sugar, essential oils and handicrafts are exported. ,Columbus discovered Hispaniola in 1492. Spain colonized the island, making Santo-Domingo the base for exploration of the Western Hemisphere. Later French buccaneers settled the western third of Hispaniola whish was ceded to France by Spain in 1697. Slaves brought over from Africa to work the coffee and sugar cane plantations made it one of the richest colonies of the French Empire. The Republic of Haiti was established in 1804 after the slave revolts of the 1790s.,, ,As a republic from 1915-1934 it was occupied by the U.S. Francois Duvalier was president 1957-1981, and his son 1981-1986, when a quick succession of governments continued with U.N. and U.S. intervention through the 1990s.,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Gourde = 100 Centimes,, ,1 Piastre = 300 Gourdes, 1873,, ,5 Gourdes = 1 U.S. Dollar, 1919-89,,