POPULATION. 



209 



ducting the sugar plantations, and a greater equaliza- 

 tion of sexes upon them. In no other way can we 

 account for the rapid increase in the material pros- 

 perity of Cuba, an increase that is only surpassed by 

 that of our own United States. 



In estimating, therefore, the present population of 

 Cuba, we shall adopt the rate of increase exhibited 

 by the two censuses of 1827 and 1841. The first may 

 be considered the minimum of population at that 

 time, it being less than the well-reasoned estimate 

 of Baron Humboldt for the year 1825 : and although 

 the second was perhaps taken with greater care, we 

 know of no reason why it should not be held also as 

 the minimum expression of the population. It was, 

 at the time of publication, charged by well-informed 

 writers, with understating numbers. 



The annual rate per cent, of increase in the several 

 classes of population, as indicated by the various 

 censuses, is somewhat fluctuating, and is as follows : 



White. Free colored. Slaves. 

 1774 to 1792,.... 2.7 4.2 5 



1792 11 181?,. ...3.1 4.4 5.4 



1817 " 1827,. ...2.1 0.68 4.4 



1827 " 1841,. ...2.5 3.1 3.7 



The latter rate of increase would give to Cuba, at 

 the close of the year 1855, 



