174 cuj;a and i'oiito iuco 



At such times there is need of a stanch vessel, steady 

 nerves, and a captain well acquainted with the channel, as 



no pilot will vent lire out. 



San Juan is a perfect specimen of a walled town, with 

 portcullis, moat, gates, and battlements. Built over two 

 hundred and fifty years ago, it is still in good condition 

 and repair. The walls are picturesque and represent a 

 stupendous work and cost in themselves. Besides the 

 town within the walls, there are small portions just out- 

 side, called the Marina and Puerta de Espaha, containing 

 two or three thousand inhabitants each. There are also 

 two suburbs one, San Turce, approached by the only road 

 leading out of the city, and the other, Cataho, across the 

 bay, reached by ferry. The Marina and the two suburbs 

 are situated on sandy points or spits, and the latter are 

 surrounded by mangrove swamps. 



The city has several important and imposing fortifica- 

 tions, which were commenced in the year 1534, the oldest 

 of which is San Catalina ; Morro Castle, the principal de- 

 fense, was built in 1584; and Caiiuelo and San Cristobal 

 were finished in 1751. Against the seaward front of the 

 massive walls of the Morro the ocean pounds and thun- 

 ders. A broad parade-ground is inclosed within the walls 

 westward from the citadel, and not far off is the largest 

 house of the city no less a structure than the ancient 

 castle of Ponce de Leon. His ashes are also kept here in 

 a leaden case. 



Inside the walls, the city is laid off in regular squares, 

 six parallel streets running in the direction of the length 

 of the island, and seven at right angles. The streets are 

 wider than in the older part of Havana, and will admit two 

 carriages abreast. The sidewalks are narrow, and in places 

 will accommodate but one person. The pavements are of 

 a composition manufactured in England from slag ; pleas- 

 ant, even, and durable, when no heavy strain is brought to 

 bear upon them, but easily broken, and unfit for heavy 

 traffic. Three streets beautifully shaded by trees are 



