641 



CUBA. 



CUBA. 



6-J3 



long remained a. place of considerable importance especially after the 

 restoration of the Persian empire under the Sassanidse. Ctesiphon 

 was taken by the emperor Severus, A.D. 198, and it must then have 

 been very large, for Severus carried off 100.000 prisoners from it alone. 

 Its walla rendered it a strong place down to the times of Julian and 

 Gallienus. Its later history is unknown. Near this place are some 

 remains, called Tot Kesra, or Arch of Khosroes, which has been 

 described by Ives and other travellers, and which it is conjectured 

 formed part of a palace of one of the Sassauid;o. The site of the 

 city is now called by the Arabs Al Madam. 



CUBA is the largest of the islands which constitute the Columbian 

 Archipelago, and now the most important colony of Spain. The 

 most eastern point, Cabo Maysi, is in 74 11' W. long., and the most 

 western, Cabo San Antonio, 84 58' W. long. Cabo de Cruz, the 

 most southern point, is 19 47' 16", and Cabo de Guanos, east of 

 Matanzas, the most northern point, 23 9' 27" N. lat. The length of 

 th island from Cabo Maysi to Cabo San Antonio, along the curved 

 line, ia 793 miles. It is widest near the meridian of 77, where 

 between Punta Maternello on the northern coast, and the mouth of 

 the Rio de la Magdalena, near the Pico Tarquino, it is 127J miles 

 across. Between Puerto Principe and the Havanna, which tract 

 comprehends about four-fifths of the island, it is only 52 miles wide 

 on an average. The western extremity is still narrower, the isthmus 

 between the Havanna and the port of Batabano being only 28 miles 

 across. The area of Cuba" alone is 42,383 square miles; and the 

 islands which are inclosed within the numerous reefs that surround 

 it have an area of about 1000 square miles. The population according 

 to the latest census, 1841, was 1,007,624; of whom 418,291 were 

 whites, 88,054 free-coloured persons (mixed races), 10,974 coloured 

 laves, 04,784 free negroes, and 425,521 negro slaves. 



Coatt-line, Surface, <kc. The coast-line of Cuba is above 2000 miles, 

 but hardly one-third of it is accessible to vessels ; the remainder is 

 surrounded by banks, reefs, and rocks. The coast from Cabo de 

 Cruz to Cabo de Maysi is quite free from danger; and that from 

 Cabo Maysi to Punta Maternello has only a few rocks. At Punta 

 Maternello commence the numerous keys of the Old Bahama Channel, 

 which extend for more than 300 miles to Punta de Icacos. In this 

 port, or more precisely opposite the Cayo Cruz and Cayo Romano, 

 the Old Bahama Channel is narrowest, being only from 15 to 20 miles 

 across. Between the keys and Cuba is an open sea, which may be 

 navigated by small vessels. From Punta de Icacos to Bahia Honda, 

 west of Havanna, the coast is again free from keys and rocks. To 

 the west of Bahia Honda commences the series of shoals and rocks 

 called Los Colorados, which extend to Cabo San Antonio. Thence 

 to Punta de Piedras or Liana Punta, the high coast is free from 

 shoals and rocks ; but the keys and shoals commence again to 

 the west of the Isla de Pinos, and extend to Cabo de Cruz, under 

 the names of Jardinillos, Cayo Breton, Cayos de Las Doce Leguas, and 

 Bancos de Buena Esperanza. Only the coast between Cochinos Bay 

 and Puerto Casilda, near Trinidad, forms an exception, being free 

 from banks and rocks. In the Bay of Xagua, about 30 miles east of 

 the Jardinillos, a spring of fresh-water is said to rise in the sea with 

 such force that boats cannot approach it without danger. It is 

 visited by the manati. In the sea between the northern coast of 

 Cuba and the Florida Reef, the Gulf Stream commences, but here its 

 current is not strong, and sometimes is hardly perceptible. 



Only the south-eastern part of Cuba, that which lies between Cabo 

 do Cruz, Cabo Maysi, and the town of Holguin, is mountainous. 

 This mountain group is called Sierra or Montanos del Cobre (Snake 

 Mountains), and probably in its highest parts rises more than 

 7200 feet above the sea. On the southern coast the Pico Tarquino 

 also rises to a considerable height. From the Pico Tarquino group 

 a chain of hills of moderate elevation runs in a west-north-west 

 direction, between Puerto Principe and Villa Clara, approaching at 

 first nearer to the southern, but afterwards more to the northern 

 shore. To the north-west of Trinidad stand the Lomas de San Juan, 

 which terminate in peaks and needles, and rise to about 1800 feet 

 above the sea. The elevations of the hills seem to decrease as we 

 advance westward. To the west of the meridian of Matanzas there 

 ia only one summit that attains 1200 feet. In this part the surface 

 of the island is slightly undulating ; rising in general only to from 

 250 to 350 feet above the sea. Along the southern coast large tracts 

 of low country occur. The whole space between Batabano and Xagua 

 ia nothing but a low swamp, which extends three or four miles inland. 



There are no rivers of any size or importance in Cuba. Some are 

 navigable a few miles inland for small boats ; others are used for 

 irrigating the adjacent fields. The internal traffic, formerly greatly 

 impeded by the badness of the roads, has been much facilitated by 

 the introduction of railways, of which there are now nearly 900 miles 

 in operation. 



Geological Character. Calcareous rocks of varied kinds and quality 

 are thu prevalent and characteristic formations of the island. But 

 granite occurs in the south-eastern part ; and schistose rocks occur 

 about the middle of the northern coast. Carboniferous strata are 

 found at the western end of the island. Clays and clay-slates are 

 met with in several places. 



Of the metals, copper is that which appears to be of most value. 

 In the Eastern Intendencia, where it is now worked largely by 



OEOO. DIV. VOL. II. 



English capitalists, it has hitherto proved most profitable. The ore 

 has also been found near Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, and 

 elsewhere. Gold has been found in the Sierra del Cobre, and in 

 the sand of many of the mountain streams. Lead, said to be rich 

 in silver, has also been discovered. Coal is worked in the neighbour- 

 hood of Havanna, and occurs in some other places. Marble of much 

 beauty is quarried ; and crystal, flint, and clay of a kind very service- 

 able in the arts, are obtained. 



Climate, Soil, and Productions. Cuba partakes in some measure of 

 the climate of the temperate zone, as is proved by the sudden changes 

 of the temperature, in which it in some degree resembles the 

 United States. Humboldt mentions a change of 15 degrees in the course 

 of three hours. The mean annual heat at the Havanna is 77, that 

 of the hottest month (July) 84, and that of the coldest 70 : the 

 thermometer rarely rises to 94, or sinks to 55. In the interior of 

 the island thin ice is formed after the long prevalence of northerly 

 winds, at places about 300 feet above the sea. No snow is ever 

 known to fall, either on the Lomas de Sau Juan, or on the Sierra del 

 Cobre. Hailstorms are rare ; they occur only once in fifteen or 

 twenty years, and always with south-south-westerly winds. Hurricanes 

 are less frequent in Cuba than in Jamaica and the other Antilles. 

 Sometimes none occur for six or eight years. They vent their fury 

 more on the sea than on the land, and happen, as in Jamaica, more 

 frequently on the southern than on the northern coast. They occur 

 mostly in October, but sometimes in August and September. But 

 Cuba, though not often experiencing their ravages, is exposed to the 

 boisterous north winds (los nortes), which blow particularly during 

 the cold months. The division of rainy and dry seasons is not 

 applicable to this island. No month of the year is free from 

 rain, but the greatest quantity falls during May, June, and July. 

 Earthquakes frequently occur. 



The soil throughout the island is mainly formed from the decom- 

 position of calcareous rocks, and is generally of very great fertility. 

 The cereals of Europe are little cultivated in any part of Cuba, and a 

 great quantity of flour is consequently imported from the United States 

 for the consumption of the white inhabitants. The slaves and 

 people of colour live principally on mandioc, yams, bananas, maize, 

 rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, &c. The articles raised for consumption 

 and exportation are chiefly sugar, coffee, tobacco, with some cotton, 

 cocoa, and indigo. Oranges, lemons, pine-apples, and various other 

 fruits are largely grown. As immense tracts are not cultivated, but 

 only used as pasture-ground, the number of cattle is very great, 

 it is said nearly a million and a half; hides form an article of 

 exportation, but dry meat (tasajo) is imported from Venezuela. The 

 surface under cultivation probably does not exceed one-twelfth : the 

 uncultivated part contains large prairies or savannas, on which the 

 cattle pasture, but the greatest part is overgrown with large forest- 

 trees, some of which supply excellent timber for ship-building. 



Commerce. About 1780 the exportation of Cuban produce amounted 

 to little more than two millions of Spanish dollars in value. In 1842 

 the exports had increased to upwards of 26 millions of dollars, r nd 

 the increase has since been still greater. The chief articles of export 

 are sugar, coffee, and tobacco. In 1760 the produce of sugar and 

 coffee together amounted to 5 millions of pounds : in 1847 the quan- 

 tity of sugar exported alone amounted to 575,232,000 Ibs., and the 

 subsequent removal of the sugar duties in England has greatly stimu- 

 lated this branch of Cuban commerce. Of leaf and cut tobacco and 

 cigars the quantity annually exported amounts to several millions 

 of pounds. Of coffee the present average exportation is upwards of 

 35 millions of pounds annually. Cotton is also a considerable article 

 of export. The other exports are molasses, rum, cocoa, mahogany, 

 cedar, hides, fruit, &c. 



The chief articles of importation are provisions, particularly flour, 

 rice and maize, butter and cheese, tasajo and hams, and salted fish 

 and cod. Brandy and the wines of Spain, France, Portugal, and 

 Germany also form a considerable branch of importation. As Cuba 

 has no manufactures besides those of sugar and cigars, with a small 

 quantity of rum, it imports to a large amount cotton stuffs, woollen 

 goods, linens and silk stuffs, hardware, mill-work, and machinery. 



The total amount of customs duties received in 1850 was 6,729,685 

 dollars ; in 1851 it was 8,462,834 dollars. 



Within the last few years England from holding but a subordinate 

 has risen to take a leading share in the commerce of Cuba, or at least 

 in its export trade; America still holds the first place in the import 

 trade. Spain comes next to England and the United States. Having 

 lost all her colonies on the continent of America she endeavours to 

 turn to advantage her possession of Cuba, to which she sends her 

 wines, oil, and fruits. The Hanseatic towns of Germany exchange 

 their manufactured goods (linens, paper, glass, &c.) for sugar, coffee, 

 and tobacco. France sends great quantities of wines and some 

 manufactured goods ; and Italy sends oil, olives, and fruits. 



The total value of the exports from Cuba averages about 7,000,000i ; 

 that of the imports is generally somewhat greater. The value of the 

 imports into Cuba from the United States in 1853 is stated to have 

 been 6,552,682 dollars; that of the exports 12,076,408 dollars. The 

 value of the imports from Great Britain into Cuba in 1851 was 

 1,164,177Z. ; in 1852 it was 1,033,396*. The chief English imports in 

 1851 were ; Linen goods, 369,181?. ; cotton goods, 345,549. ; woollen 



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