156 
ASPECT OF THF, CITY. 
rendered unnecessary the pecuniary succour formerly fur- 
nished to Cuba from the ^fexicau treasury. Of all the 
Spanish possessions, that island has been most prosperou.s; 
the port of the Ilavannah has, since the ti’oubles of St. 
Domingo, become one of tlie most important points of the 
commercial world. A fortunate concurrence of political 
circumstances, joined to the intelligence and commercial 
activity of the inhabitants, have preserved to the Ilavannah 
the uninterrupted enjoyment of tree intercourse with for ei mi 
nations. 
I twice visited this island, residing there on one occasion 
for three mouths, and on the other for six weeks ; and I 
enjoyed the confidence of persons, who, from their abilities 
and their position, were enabled to furnish me with the 
best information. In company with IM. Bonpland I visited 
only the vicinity of the Davanuah, the beautiful valley ot 
Guiijes, and the coast between Batabano and the port of 
Trinidad. After having succinctly described the aspect of 
tins scenery, and tlie singular modifications of a climate so 
different from that ot the other islands, I will proceed to 
examine the general population of the Island of Cuba; its 
area, calculated from the most accurate sketch of the coast ; 
the objects ot trade, and the state ot the public revenue. 
The aspect of the Ilavannah, at the entrance of the port, 
is one of the gayest and most picturesque on the shore of 
equinoctial America, north of the equator. This spot is 
celebrated by travellers of all nations. It boasts not the 
luxuriant vegetation that adorns the banks of the river 
Guayaquil, nor the wiki majesty of the rocky coast of Eio de 
Janeiro ; but the grace which in those climates embellishes 
the scenes ot cidtivated natiu’e, is at the Ilavannah mingled 
with the majesty of vegetable forms, and the organic vigour 
that chimacterizes the torrid zone. On entering the jiort of 
the Ilavannah you pass between tho fortress of tlie Morro 
(Castillo de los Santos Eeyes), and the fort of San Salvador 
de la Punta ; the opening being only from one hundred and 
seventy to two hiuidrcd toises wide. Having passed this 
narrow entrance, leaving on tho north the tine castle of San 
Carlos de la Cabana, and tho Casa Blanca, wo reach a basin 
in the form of a ti-cfoil, of which the great axis, stretching 
from S.S.VV. to X.JM.E., is two miles and one-fifth long. This 
