174: 



htjmboldt's cdba. 



CHAPTER IV. 



GEOGRAPHY. 



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

 divisions — Judiciary — Ecclesiastical — Politico-military — Public 

 Finances — Proposed new division — Present dividing line of bish- 

 oprics—Number of parishes— Popular territorial divisions — First 

 governor — [Note, Maritime subdivision.] 



I might have cited, among the causes of the low 

 temperature in Cuba, during the winter months, the 

 numerous shoals that surround the island, on which 

 the temperature of the sea is greatly diminished, 

 partly by the polar currents which seek the abysses 

 of the tropical ocean, and partly by the mixing of 

 the surface and the deep waters on the steep sides of 

 the banks ; but this cause of fall in the temperature 

 is partly compensated by that river of warm water 

 (the Gulf Stream), which bathes the whole extent of 

 the northwestern shore of Cuba, and whose rapid 

 flow is often delayed there by the northern and 

 northwestern winds. 



The chain of shoals that surrounds this island, and 



