BOTANICAL GARDEN, 5 



which, though soft when at first worked into suitable blocks, 

 becomes as hard as granite by exposure to the atmosphere. 

 The fagades of the town houses are nearly always covered 

 with stucco. The dwelling houses are universally so con- 

 structed as to form an open square in the center, which 

 constitutes the only yard, or court, that is attached. The 

 house is divided into a living room, a store-room, chambers, 

 and stable, all upon one floor. If there is a second story, 

 a broad flight of steps leads to it, and there are the family 

 chambers, or sleeping apartments, opening upon a corridor 

 which extends round the court. 



The Botanical Garden, one of the many attractions of 

 Havana, is situated about a mile from the city proper, ad- 

 joining which are the attractive grounds of the Governor- 

 General's country house. Both are open to the public and 

 richly repay a visit. The Governor's grounds are shaded 

 by a great variety of tropical trees and flowers. Altogether, 

 the place is a wilderness of blossoms composed of exotic 

 and native flowers. There is also an interesting aviary to 

 be seen here, and a small artificial lake is covered with 

 web-footed birds and brilliant-feathered ducks. The gar- 

 dens seem to be neglected, but they are very lovely in their 

 native luxuriance. Dead wood and decaying leaves are 

 always a concomitant of such gardens in the low latitudes. 

 Here is a great variety of the scarlet hibiscus and the gar- 

 land of night, which grows like a young palm to eight or 

 nine feet, throwing out from the center of its drooping 

 foliage a cluster of brown blossoms tipped with white, 

 shaped like a mammoth bunch of grapes. It blooms at 

 night, and is fragrant only by moon and starlight. 



Late in the afternoon of the 21st we left Havana, and 

 turned our prow toward Progreso, Yucatan, expecting to 

 arrive there on the 23rd. The nights of the latter part of 

 February in this latitude were exceedingly beautiful, and 



