204 



humboldt's cuba. 



1806, with greater exactitude, 277,364. {Patriota 

 Americano, vol. ii., p. 300.) Consequently, tlie 

 increase, in thirty-one years, had been only sixty- 

 one per cent. ; but if we could compare the latter 

 half of this term, it would show a much more rapid 

 increase. In fact, the census of- 1817 gives a popu- 

 lation of 392,377, which shows an increase of forty- 

 one per cent., in eleven years, for the same extent 

 of country, then called the Province of Havana, 

 comprising the districts of the capital, Matanzas, 

 and Trinidad, or Cuatro Villas. 



We must remember, while comparing the results 

 of the censuses of 1791 and 1810 of the capital and 

 of the eastern province, that we obtain an excessive 

 rate of increase, for there were many more omissions 

 in the first than in the second census. By comparing 

 those most recently taken in the eastern province, in 

 1810 and 1817, I believe we approach nearer the 

 truth. These are as follows : 



Whites. Free Col'd. Slaves. Total. 

 1810 ,,,...35,513 32,884 38,834 107,231 

 1817 33,733 50,230 46,500 130,463 



Increase in six years 23,232, or more than twenty- 

 one per cent. ; and there is probably an error in the 

 second statement of the number of whites, in the 

 last census. The proportion of whites and free 

 colored is very great in the district of Cuatro Villas, 



