PHYSICAL ASPECT. 



127 



N. to S.), is 37 leagues. The mean width of the 

 island between Havana and Puerto Principe, being 

 about four-fifths of its length, is 15 leagues. 



In the most cultivated part, between Havana and 

 Batabano, the island is only 8| leagues across. This 

 proximity of the northern and southern shores at 

 this point makes the port of Batabano of great im- 

 portance both for commerce and for military defence. 

 Among the great islands of the globe, that of Java, 

 from its shape and area (4,170 square leagues), most 

 resembles Cuba. The coast-line of Cuba extends 

 520 leagues, of which 280 correspond to the southern 

 shore between Cape San Antonio and Cape May si. 1 



That the territorial power of Cuba, as comparing 

 with the rest of the Antilles, may be better seen, we 

 present the following table : — 





Extent in sq. 

 leagues. 



Population. 



Pop. to sq. 

 league. 



Cuba according to Bauza, 



3,615 



715,000 



197 



Haiti " Lindeneau, 2,450 



820,000 



334 



Jamaica, 



460 



402,000 



874 



Puerto Rico, 



322 



225,000 



691 



Great Antilles, 



6,847 



2,147,000 



313 



Lesser Antilles, 



940 



696,000 



740 



Whole Archipelago, 



7,787 



2,843,000 



365 



1 The " Cuadro Estadistico " of 1846 states the shore-line at 

 573 leagues, of which 301 correspond to the south, and 272 to the 

 north ooast. 



