68 Natural Histokv IUi.i.etin. 



eiitireh'. naked children pick o\er these foul heaps in search 

 for edible scraps. Flies swarm everywhere, and the dirty 

 faces of the children are covered with them. Yellow fever is 

 endemic here, and it is a wonder that its ravages are not more 

 terrible in the squalid districts. The flies must be active agents 

 in spreading contagious diseases, where garbage from all 

 sovn-ces is left to rot in the street, and the children and the 

 flies carry on a struggle for existence, although living in 

 apparent amity. 



The manufacture of tobacco int9 cigars and cigarettes is of 

 course one of the most important industries, and every vessel 

 that comes into the harbor is besieged by tobacco dealers, \Nho 

 come out in bungos and use the most approved arts of the 

 peddler in disposing of their goods. 



The sudden incursion of so many young men and women 

 from the hitherto unheard of country called --Iowa" was a 

 matter of considerable interest to the good people of Havana, 

 and they doubtless had many a hearty laugh over the attempts 

 of the "• Americanos " to make themselves understood. One 

 of the most noticeable traits about Spaniards is the impossi- 

 bilitv of inducing them to laugh, or even to smile, at any mis- 

 take a stranger makes in attempting to speak Spanish. With 

 perfect courtesv they keep their countenances vmtil they are 

 safe from observation. The}' would be other than human did 

 they not laugh then. But we had our turn when our laundry 

 bill was handed in. with a printed price list, from which I make 

 a few extracts: 



•• Casimire pans. .... 80 cents. 



Hand Ferchiefs, .... 05 cents. 



Witte linen coats. ... 40 cents. 



Varioss happes. .... 30 cents. 



Nap Kins. ..... 05 cents. 



Washing will be done in feus hour." 



Although on shore the heat seemed great during the middle 



of the dav. the thermometer in the hold of our vessel usually 



stood at about 86". not going more than two or three degrees 



above that point. The morning from ten to twelve seemed 



