15-1 THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 



the opening of the old channel, closes the Gulf of Mexico 

 on the south-east, leaving the ocean current, known by the 

 name oi the Gulf Stream, no other outlet on the south 

 than a strait between Cape St. Antonio and Cape Catoche; 

 and no other on the north than the channel of Bahama, 

 between Bahia-Honda and the shoals of Florida. Near 

 the northern outlet, where the highways of so many nations 

 may be said to cross each other, lies the fine port of the 

 Havannah, lortified at once by nature and by art. The 

 fleets which sail from this port, and which are partly con- 

 structed of the cedrela and the mahogany of the island of 

 Cuba, might, at the entrance of the Mexican Mediterranean, 

 menace the opposite coast, as the fleets that sail from Cadiz 

 command the Atlantic near the Pillars of Hercules. In 

 the meridian of the Havannah, the Gulf of Mexico, the old 

 channel, and the channel of Bahama unite. The opposite 

 direction of the currents, and the violent agitations of the 

 atmosphere at the setting-in of winter, impart a peculiar 

 character to these latitudes, at the extreme limit of the 

 equinoctial zone. 



The island of Cuba is the largest of the Antilles.* Its 

 long and narrow form gives it a vast development of coast, 

 and places it in proximity with Hayti and Jamaica, with the 

 most southern province of the United States (Florida), and 

 the most easterly province of the Mexican Confederation 

 ( Yucatan), f This circumstance claims serious attention, 

 when it is considered that Jamaica, St. Domingo, Cuba, and 

 the southern parts of the United States (from Louisiana to 

 Virginia), contain nearly two millions eight hundred thou- 

 sand Africans. Since the separation of St. Domingo, the 

 Floridas, and New Spain from the mother-country, the 

 island of Cuba is connected only by similarity of religion, 

 language, and manners, with the neighbouring countries, 

 which, during ages, were subject to the same laws. 



Florida forms the last link in that long chain, the 

 northern extremity of which reaches the basin of St. Law- 

 rence, and extends from the region of palm-trees to that of 



* Its area is little less in extent than that of England, not including 

 Wales, 



f These places are brought into communication one with another by a 

 voyage of ten or twelve days. 



