JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



15 



let. I looked upon him as the last of a race now extinct 

 in Spain, but still lingering in this remote part of the 

 Spanish dominions. 



One of the establishments in Havana deserving a pass- 

 ing visit from a stranger, is the great coffee-house, called 

 Cafe de la Lonja, where the luxury of an ice cream may- 

 be had for a small consideration. It is a place much fre- 

 quented, and consists of several large rooms, handsomely 

 fitted up, and ornamented with chandeliers and mirrors, 

 with little tables placed at intervals, where visitors take 

 refreshments, for a Spaniard never takes anything at the 

 bar. There is a great consumption here of coffee, choco- 

 late, lemonade, and ices. Spirituous liquors are not much 

 in request. To do the Spaniards justice, they are gene- 

 rally very temperate. Many of them are water drinkers, 

 but prefer this element iced, and sweetened by a composi- 

 tion of sugar, called panal, which they consider a luxury. 

 The waiters are tolerably attentive, and if, on being called, 

 they cannot come immediately, will at least intimate their 

 having heard you, by crying out, " Ya voy" (I am 

 coming.) Annexed to the establishment is a room provided 

 with newspapers, prices current, and a shipping list. 



My short sojourn in Havana did not allow time to form 

 a deliberate opinion of the inhabitants. As far as my ex- 

 perience went, I found both sexes courteous and civil, and 

 exceedingly attentive to strangers. They appeared to me 

 to resemble in taste and habits the people of Andalusia. 

 Ostentatious, prodigal, somewhat effeminate, and a little ad- 

 dicted to gambling, but generous and hospitable in the ex- 

 treme. They have a great passion for titles, uniforms, and 

 badges of honor, whether military or civil. Offices are 

 mulitplied in every department, partly to gratify this crav- 

 ing passion for distinction. Happy is he who can mount 

 a uniform or boast a title of any kind. Many of them are 

 purchased with money, and at great price. There is a 

 merchant there who has attained the much envied dis- 

 tinction of being addressed as "Your Excellency." 



