PHYSICAL ASPECT. 



125 



particularly between Havana and Batabano, has 

 been exaggerated, and it is only since the Hydro- 

 graphic bureau at Madrid, the best establishment of 

 its kind in Europe, has published the labors of Capt. 

 Jose del Bio and Lieut. Ventura Barcaiztegui, that 

 its area has been calculated with any degree of 

 accuracy. The figure of the Isle of Pines, and of 

 the southern coast between the port of Casilda and 

 Cape Cruz (inside of the Doce leguas cays), has been 

 laid down very differently in our several maps. 



Lindeneau, in view of the publications of the Bureau 

 previous to 1807, had stated the area of Cuba, without 

 the neighboring small islands, to be 2,255 square 

 geographical leagues (fifteen to a degree), and 2,318 

 with the islands that surround it, which is equivalent 

 to 4,102 square maritime leagues of twenty to the 

 degree. Senor Ferrer, with somewhat different data, 

 does not make it exceed 3,848 square maritime 

 leagues. 



In order to give in this work the most exact results 

 possible in the present state of astronomical observa- 

 tions there, I have induced Senor Bauza, who honors 

 me with his friendship, and whose name has be- 

 come celebrated through his great and valuable 

 labors, to calculate the area in accordance with the 

 new map of the island on four sheets, which he will 

 soon complete. This learned geographer has acced- 



