No. 2.] 3IATTHEW — IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA. 75* 



IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA. 



By G. F. Matthew. 



(Continued from page 34.) 



The plan of the houses in and about Cienfuegos is very differ- 

 ent from that of our own, and a few words about their arrange 

 ment may be of interest. They are seldom more than one story 

 hio;h, and in the better class of houses the roofs are in almost 

 all cases covered with tiles. I have already made allusion to 

 the use made of the clay in the vicinity of Cienfuegos for the 

 manufacture of tiles and bricks. The bricks are of a yellow color, 

 and are much broader and flatter than those used in Canada: 

 large quantities are used for the walls and floors of houses, for 

 paving the sidewalks, &c. 



The general arrangement of the apartment reminds one of the 

 old Roman dwelling, modified to suit th.e requirements of the 

 climate and the demands of modern civilization. In the centre 

 is a paved court (patio) which corresponds to the atrium in 

 being the heart of the structure. This court is usually adorned 

 with flower-beds, a few ornamental trees and shrubs, and an 

 aviary; and not unfrequently has beneath it a large cistern. In 

 front of the court there is a closed veranda (comodor,^ generally 

 used as a dining and sitting room; and which is shut off from 

 the court by latticed doors. On the sides of the court are bed- 

 rooms and store-rooms, while the back part of the building, which 

 is shut off from the body of the house by a brick wall, is reserved 

 for kitchen, laundry, &c. In the small court behind the main 

 one are the apartments occupied by domestic slaves. In front of 

 the veranda of which I have spoken, is the more substantial por- 

 tion of the house, usually enclosed with brick walls, against 

 which the veranda is built. In this part of the building there is 

 on one side a very broad hall (zaguan), made so to accommo- 

 date the family carriage, which stands here when not in use. It 

 is shut off from the street by a large, heavy door, in which is a 

 wicket, the only entrance to the house under ordinary circum- 

 stances. On the other side of the main building is a large room 

 (sala) devoted to the purpose of a parlour and drawingroom.. 



