EXTENT AND GEOLOGY OF CUBA. 259 



to the heat of the climate, the filth of the town, and 

 the influence of the shore, there is usually a great 

 accumulation of disease, and the yellow fever or 

 black vomiting is prevalent. The markets are well 

 supplied. 



A peculiar character is given to the landscape in 

 the vicinity of Havana by the palma real (Oreo- 

 doxa regid), the trunk of which, enlarged a little to- 

 wards the middle, attains a height varying from 60 

 to 85 feet, and is crowned by pinnated leaves rising 

 perpendicularly, and curved at the point. Numerous 

 country-houses of light and elegant construction 

 surround the bay, to which the proprietors retreat 

 when the yellow fever rages in the town. 



The island of Cuba is nearly as large as Portugal ; 4 

 its greatest length being 783^ miles, and its mean 

 breadth 51 f miles. More than four-fifths of its ex- 

 tent is composed of low lands ; but it is traversed 

 in various directions by ranges of mountains, the 

 highest of which are said to attain an altitude of 

 7674 feet. The western part consists of granite, 

 gneiss, and primitive slates ; which, as well as the 

 central district, contains two formations of compact 

 limestone, one of argillaceous sandstone, and an- 

 other of gypsum. The first of these presents large 

 caves near Matanzas and Jaruco, and is filled with 

 numerous species of fossils. The secondary forma- 

 tions to the east of the Havana are pierced by 

 syenitic and euphotide rocks, accompanied with ser- 

 pentine. No volcanic eruptions, properly so called, 

 have hitherto been discovered. 



Owing to the cavernous structure of the limestone 

 deposites, the great inclination of their strata, the 

 small breadth of the island, and the frequency and 

 nakedness of the plains, there are very few rivers of 

 any magnitude, and a large portion of the territory 

 is subject to severe droughts. Yet the undulating 

 surface of the country, the continually renewed ver- 

 dure, and the distribution of vegetable forms, give 



