Vi COHTEOTS. 



Batabano — Comparative territorial power — Geological character 

 —Mountains — Face of the country— -Elevation — Noted hills — 

 Eastern portion — Gold-washing — Formation of western and cen- 

 tral portion — Giiines — Soil — Hills of San Juan—Caverns — Modern 

 formation — Shore at Havana— Roaring banks explained — Relative 

 age of strata — Fresh water on the cays — Origin — Vicinity of 

 Havana — Guanabacoa — Serpentine — Petroleum — Botany of 

 Guanabacoa — Mineral springs — Reflections on geology — Earth- 

 quakes — Fertile lands — -Beauty of vegetation— Soils, how distin- 

 guished — Rivers— Springs— Lands near Havana. [Note.— Imper- 

 fect state of geological knowledge in Cuba— Known metal and 

 mineral productions— Coal analyzed— Celebrated mineral springs 

 —Analysis of tobacco lands in the Vuelta de Abajo] ....... 124 



CHAPTER HI. 



CLIMATE. 



General remarks— Mean temperature — Means of heat and cold- 

 Summer solstice — Peculiarities of winter — Compared with Macao 

 and Rio Janeiro — Fires not needed— Hail — General remarks 

 —Anomalies of vegetation — The pine of Cuba — Identity with that 

 of Mexico — Temperature in the interior and at Havana— Compari- 

 son with Cumana — Ice — Snow never seen in Cuba— Sudden changes 

 at Havana — Internal heat of the earth— Oscillations of thermome- 

 ter and barometer connected— Barometrical altitudes — Hurricanes 

 —[Note. — Hurricanes of 1844 and 1845 — Rain gauge and Hygro- 

 meter — Atmospherical phenomena — Cloudy and fair days — Effect 

 of climate on vegetation] 15® 



CHAPTER IV. 



GEOGRAPHY. 



Banks and reefs round Cuba— North coast — South coast — Territorial 

 ' divisk T 1 — Jii^Hary— Ecclesiastical — Politico-military — Public 



