12 



NARRATIVE OP A 



than private dwellings. They are roomy and well venti- 

 lated, having interior courts or areas, like the houses in 

 Old Spain, which permit a free circulation of the air, so 

 desirable in southern climates. The doors and windows 

 reach from the ceiling to the floor, and almost every win- 

 dow opens into a balcony. The floors are of flat square 

 bricks, in some cases glazed and painted ; the walls are 

 stuccoed, or painted in fresco. The internal accommoda- 

 tions of the houses, however, are by no means in propor- 

 tion to their extent. A good door-way, a broad stair-case, 

 and a spacious saloon, together with solidity of construc- 

 tion, are the objects to which the architect seems chiefly to 

 have directed his attention. The dearness of house-rent 

 is remarkable in this city ; three or four thousand dollars 

 a year being the least for which a tolerably good house 

 can be procured. 



Among the numerous public buildings, the most con- 

 spicuous are the Government House, the Custom House, 

 the Intendency, and the Theatre. The latter is a noble 

 edifice, for which the public are indebted to General Tacon; 

 It contains three rows of boxes and two galleries, besides 

 the pit. A trellis of gilded iron, by which the boxes are 

 balustraded, imparts to them a gay and airy appearance, 

 while it affords a good view of the occupants. The pit is 

 divided into seats, like arm-chairs, regularly numbered, 

 and neatly covered with red leather, and provided with 

 cushions : an excellent arrangement, which deserves to 

 be adopted elsewhere. There are two coffee-houses within 

 the building, and other rooms for repose and refreshment, 

 besides various offices. This edifice was erected at an 

 expense of two hundred thousand dollars, and is said to 

 be capable of containing four thousand persons. It is even 

 stated, that on the occasion of a masquerade, given there, 

 seven thousand assembled within its walls. The theatre 

 being open while I was in Havana, I was induced one 

 night to attend the performance. The play, "El Pastelero 

 de Madrigal," (the Pastry-Cook of Madrigal,) was wretch- 



