242 



humboldt's cuba. 



proprietors, will, it is hoped, change this state of 

 things.] 



IV. In the district of St. Jago de Cuba, considered 

 as a whole, the proportions of the different classes 

 have experienced little alteration during the last 

 twenty years. The partido of Bayamo is notable 

 for the large number of free colored (44 per cent.), 

 which increases yearly, as also in Holguin and 

 Baracoa. In the vicinity of St. Jago the coffee 

 plantations prosper and show a very considerable 

 increase in the slaves. 



[Note. — -The law of population in this department 

 has experienced little change since the time of Baron 

 Humboldt's researches, with the exception of the 

 district of Holguin. This district, situate on the 

 north side of Cuba, possesses a very large stretch of 

 the best agricultural lands, while its fine harbors, and 

 clear coast, make it easilv accessible to commerce. 

 It has entered upon a career of agricultural labor, 

 that holds out the most golden promise of reward ; 

 and the law of its population begins to assimilate to 

 that of the Western department, which it may rival 

 in agricultural prosperity.] 



In the official documents published at Havana, an 

 attempt has been made to compare the density of 



