102 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



Chapter XXXII 



Of the Island of Cuba, Its Size, and the Cities EstabHshed in It. 



289. The island of Santiago de Cuba lies 15 leagues to the W. of 

 Hispaniola, reckoning from the Cape of San Nicolas to the Point of 

 Maisi in this island of Cuba ; it is 250 leagues long from E, to W., 

 from Cape Maisi at the E., within sight of Hispaniola, to Cape San 

 Anton, the westernmost of this island. At its widest point from N. 

 to S., it measures from 45 to 50 leagues, and at its narrowest, 12, 

 between Matamano and Havana ; it is over 600 leagues in circum- 

 ference; it lies between 20° and 21° N. Most of its territory is level, 

 with great woods and forests, and abundance of native fruits, wild 

 grapes, palms, and many sorts of valuable timber ; the rivers are of 

 clear water and full of delicious fish. There are mines of gold, silver, 

 copper, and other metals. Dr. Solorzano describes the island with 

 great erudition in **De Jure Indiarum," book I, chapter 6, folio 64, 

 No. 12. 



290. It was Admiral Diego Velazquez who subdued and pacified 

 Cuba, and the first city he founded and settled in the island was 

 Santiago de Cuba, at 20°3o' N., in the year 151 1, on the S. coast, 

 2 leagues from the sea, with a grand harbor, very safe and deep. At 

 the start it was a large city ; at present it has a few more than 80 

 Spanish residents. It contains the Cathedral of the island, with a few 

 Prebendaries who are in residence and conduct services ; there are a 

 Dominican and a Franciscan convent, a hospital, and other pilgrimage 

 shrines. The Governor resides there, appointed by His Majesty, in 

 consultation with the Supreme Council of the Indies ; he has under his 

 jurisdiction all the Spanish settlements on the island, viz, Bayamo. 

 Baracoa, Sancti Spiritus, Puerto Principe, Trinidad, and El Cayo. 



291. It contains the rich copper mines, out of which they have 

 taken, and continue taking, great quantities of copper, from which 

 they have made all the cannon of the Morro in Havana and other 

 forts, and much has been exported to Spain. Santiago has abundance 

 of meat from the great cattle ranches in its district, and of corn, 

 manioc, and other fruit and root crops. From here to Cape Tiburon 

 on the island of Hispaniola, it is 40 leagues. 



292. The village of Baracoa is the easternmost on the island ; it is 

 50 leagues ENE. of Santiago, established by Diego Velazquez. Bay- 

 amo lies 20 leagues NE. ; it is the largest village in its district and is 

 wonderfully temperate and attractive. Puerto Principe lies 40 leagues 

 NW. of Santiago, on the N. coast ; it is 50 leagues along the S. coast 

 to the village of Sancti Spiritus; El Cayo and Trinidad are the 

 smallest, and not so far away. 



