LES CAYES

also called Cayes, or Aux Cayes, town, southwestern Haiti, on the southern Caribbean shore of the southern peninsula. Founded in 1786, it was plagued by disease and pirates during colonial times. In 1815 the South American liberator Simn Bolvar visited the port to accept Haitian arms and a contingent of troops to aid him in his fight against Spain. The town was badly damaged by fire in 1908 and by hurricane in 1954. Les Cayes is Haiti's leading southern port, exporting sugar, coffee, bananas, cotton, timber, dyewood, and hides. Historic landmarks include an arsenal and several forts dating from buccaneer times. Pop. (1987 est.) 35,829.