154 
THE WEST INDIA ISEATOa. 
tlie opening of tlie old channel, closes the Gulf of Mexico 
on the south-east, leaving the ocean current, known by the 
name ol the Gulf Stream, no other outlet on the ^uth 
than a strait between Cape St. Antonio and Cape Catoche; 
and no other on the north than the channel of Bahama, 
OA^'tweeii Kahia-IIouda and the shoals of Florida. Near 
the northern outlet, where the highw ays of so many nations 
may be said to cross each other, lies’ the fine port of the 
Havannah, lortified at once by nature and by art. The 
fleets which sail trom this port, and which arc’ partly con- 
structed of the codrcla and the mahogany of the island of 
Cuba, might, at the entrance of the Mexican Mediterranean, 
menace the opposite coast, as the fleets that sail from Cadiz 
command the Atlantic near the Pillars of Hercules In 
the meridian of the llavannah, the Gulf of Mexico, the old 
channel, and the channel of Bahama unite. The opposite 
direction of the currents, and the violent agitations of the 
atmosphere at the setting-in ot winter, impart a peculiar 
character to these latitudes, at the extreme limit of the 
equinoctial zone. 
The island of Cuba is the largest of the Antilles.* Its 
long and narrow form ^ves it a vast development of coast, 
and places it in proximity 'vvith Ilayti and Jamaica, witli tho 
most southern province of the United States (Florida), and 
the mosb easterly province of tlie Mexican Confederation 
(yicatan) . b I his circumstance claims serious attention, 
when it is considered that Jamaica, St. Domingo, Cuba, and 
the soiitheru parts ot the United States (from Louisiana to 
Virginia), contain nearly two millions eight hundred thou- 
sand Africans. Since the separation of St. Domingo, the 
lloridas, and New Spain from the mother-country, the 
island of Cuba is connected only by similarity of religion, 
language, and manners, with the neighbouring countries, 
whicli, during ages, were subject to the same laws. 
Florida forms the last link in that long chain, the 
northern extremity of which reaches the basin of St. Law- 
rence, and extends from the region of palm-trees to that of 
• Us area is little less in extent than that of England, not including 
Walps. 
t Tliese places are lir.iiight into communication one with another fav » 
Voyage ot ten or twelve days. 
