158 TOMB OP COLUMBUS. 



between the hospital of Santa Paula and the theatre, and the 

 other between the Castillo de la Punta and the Puerta de la 

 Muralla, called the Paseo extra muros ; the latter is delici- 

 ously cool, and is frequented by carriages after sunset. It 

 was begun by the Marquis de la Torre, governor of the 

 island, who gave the first impulse to the improvement of the 

 police and the municipal government. Don Luis de las 

 Casas, and the Count de Santa Clara, enlarged the planta- 

 tions. Near the Campo de Marte is the Botanical Garden, 

 which is well worthy to fix the attention of the government ; 

 and another place fitted to excite at once pity and indig- 

 nation, the barracoon, in front of which the wretched slaves 

 are exposed for sale. A marble statue of Charles III. has 

 been erected, since my return to Europe, in the extra muros 

 walk. This spot was at first destined for a monument to 

 Christopher Columbus, whose ashes, after the cession of the 

 Spanish part of St. Domingo, were brought to the island of 

 Cuba.* The same year the ashes of Fernando Cortez were 

 transferred in Mexico from one church to another: thus, 

 at the close of the eighteenth century, the remains of the 

 two greatest men who promoted the conquest of America 

 were interred in new sepulchres. 



The most majestic palm-tree of its tribe, the palma real, 

 imparts a peculiar character to the landscape in the vicinity 

 of the Havannah ; it is the Oreodoxa regia of our description 

 of American palm-trees. Its tall trunk, slightly swelled 

 towards the middle, grows to the height of 60 or 80 feet ; 

 the upper part is glossy, of a delicate green, newly formed by 



* Columbus lies buried in the cathedral of the Havannah, close to the 

 wall near the high altar. On the tomb is the following inscription : 



M O restos y Imagen del grande Colon ; 

 Mil siglos duran guardados en la Urna, 

 Yen remembransa de nuestra Nacion." 



* Oh relics and image of the great Colon (Columbus) 

 A thousand ages are encompassed in thy Urn, 

 And in the memory of our Nation." 



His remains were first deposited at Valladolid, and thence were removed 

 to Seville. In 1536, the bodies of Columbus and of his son Diego 

 (El Adelantado) were carried to St. Domingo, and there interred in the 

 cathedral ; but they were afterwards removed to the place where they now 

 repose. 



