16 



humboldt's cuba. 



diately contiguous to tlieir coasts, points to her as 

 the natural depository for their productions, and the 

 scene of their commercial exchanges with the rest of 

 the world. 



This natural relation is augmented by the physical 

 aspect of the countries in question. Traversed as 

 they are, through their whole extent, by chains of 

 mountains, the- construction of long lines of internal 

 communication, which shall concentrate tlieir trade 

 upon any point within their own territory, is of very 

 difficult and costly attainment, and Cuba thus be- 

 comes the probable channel of their future inter- 

 course with the nations north and east of them. 

 Though the value of this natui^l connection may 

 now seem small, tlieir mineral wealth, and vast 

 tracts of fertile soil under a genial climate, indicate 

 a great increase of importance at no very distant 

 day, under the natural development of the progress 

 of America. 



The Gulf of Mexico, with a shore line of nearly 

 six thousand miles, forms almost an exact circle, the 

 great ocean outlet to which is through the narrow 

 passage running along the northern shore of Cuba, 

 and within a few miles of her best and strongest har- 

 bors. This formation of the land and sea, brings the 

 rich mineral tribute paid by Mexico to Europe, and 

 the bulky products of the region drained by the Mis- 



