POPULATION. 



199 



total population. The free colored amount to nine- 

 teen per cent., which is double their proportion in 

 Jamaica or Martinique. As the census of 1817, 

 modified by the Provincial Deputation, only exhibits 

 115,700 free colored, and 225,000 slaves, the com- 

 parison proves — 1st, that the free colored have been 

 estimated incorrectly both in 1811 and 1817; and 

 2d, that the mortality of the negroes is so great that, 

 notwithstanding the importation of more than 67,700 

 negroes from Africa, according to the custom-house 

 returns, there were in 1817 only 13,300 more slaves 

 than in 1811. 



The decrees of the Cortes of 3d March, and 26th 

 July, 1813, and the necessity of ascertaining the 

 population, for the establishment of the electoral 

 juntas of the province, the partido, and the parish, 

 obliged the government to take a new census in 

 1817, which is as follow : 



Census of 1817, exclusive of transient persons and 

 negroes imported during the year. 



Districts. 



Whites. 



Free colored. 



Slaves. 



Western Department : 











135,177 



40,419 



112,122 



Matanzas 



10,617 



1,676 



9,594 



Trinidad (with Santi Espiritu, 









Remedies, and Villa Clara) 



51,864 



16,411 



14,497 



