GENERAL VIEWS. 



117 



As a general thing, it may be supposed that, with 

 the police improvements, the salubrity of Havana 

 has also improved ; but the effects of these changes 

 can only be really observed among the native popu- 

 lation, for foreigners, who go there from Europe and 

 North America, must suffer from the general influ- 

 ence of the climate, and they will continue to suffer 

 even though the streets were as carefully cleaned as 

 could be desired. The sea-shore has such an influ- 

 ence, that even the natives of the island who reside 

 in the country, far from the coast, are subject to 

 attacks with the yellow fever w T hen they visit 

 Havana. 



The markets of the city are well supplied. In 

 1819 a careful estimate was made of the value 

 of the produce brought daily to Havana by two 

 thousand beasts of burden, and it was found that 

 the consumption of meats maize, yuca, vegeta- 

 bles, rum, milk, eggs, forage, and segars, amounted 

 annually to $4,480,000. 



We passed the months of December, January and 

 February, making observations in the vicinity of 

 Havana, and in the beautiful plain of Guines. We 

 found in the Cuesta family, which, with that of Santa 

 Maria, forms one of the largest commercial houses 

 in America, and in the house of Count O'Reilly, the 

 most noble and generous hospitality. We lodged at 



