CHAP. XXI. 



I'opiilation. 



Hospitals 



Palma reul. 



i:xtcntc>f 

 Cubx 



256 IIAVANNAII. 



for the solidity of their construction, and the streets are 

 in general narrow and unpaved, in consequence of which 

 they are extremely dirty and disagreeable. But there 

 are* two fine public walks to which the inhabitants 

 resort. 



Although the town of Havannah, properl}^ so called, 

 is only 1918 yards long and 1060 broad, it contained in 

 1,S27 a population of 39,980 within the walls, and 54,043 

 in the suburbs. These were divided as follow : — 



Wliitcs,., 46,621 



Free Pardos or flliilattoes, ({,215 ) „„ ./.£, 



Free Blacks 15.347 j" •■-^'^''- 



Pardos or Mulatto Slaves, 1,01(1) o-iuu\ 



Black Slaves, 22,830 j •■ "'''"•*" 



94,023 

 There are two hospitals in the town, the number of 

 sick admitted into which is considerable. Owing to the 

 heat of tlie climate, the filth of the town, and the in- 

 fluence of the shore, there is usually a great accumula- 

 tion 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 Havannah by the palma real {Oreodoxa rec/ia), 

 tlie trunk of which, enlarged a little towards 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 ; its 

 greatest length being 784 miles, and its mean breadth 

 61;^ miles. More than four-fifths of its extent is com- 

 posed 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 

 [lart consists of granite, gneiss, and primitive slates ; 

 which, as well as the central district, contains two 

 formations of compact limestone, one of argillaceous 



