2VJ ECCLKilASXIOAt DIVISIONS OX CL'JJA. 
on the east, by the names Cayo Breton, Cayos de las doce 
Leguas, and Bancos de Buena Esperanza. On all this 
southern line the coast is exempt from danger with the 
exception of that part which lies between the strait of 
Cochinos and the mouth of the Eio Guaurabo. These 
seas are very difficult to navigate. I had the opportunity 
of determining the position of several points in latitude 
and longitude duriug the passage from Batabano to Trini- 
dad ot Cuba and to Carthagena. Tt would seem that the 
resistance of the currents of tlie highlands of the island 
of Bines, and the remarkable out-stretching of Cabo Cruz, 
have at once favoured the accumulation of sand, and the 
labours of the coralline polypes which inhabit calm anti 
shallow \yater. Along this extent of the southern coast a 
length of 145 leagues, only one-seventh affords entirely free 
access ; v'iz. that part between Cayo de Piedras and Cave 
Blanco, a little to the cast of Puerto Casilda. There are 
found anchorages often frequented by small barks; for ex- 
ample, the Surgidero del Batabano, ’Bahia de Xagua, and 
Puerto Casilda, or Trinidad de Cuba. Beyond this latter 
port, towards the mouth of the Eio Canto' and Cabo Cruz 
(behind the Cayos de doce Leguas), the coast, covered with 
lagoons, js not very accessible, and is almost entirely desert. 
At the island of Cuba, as heretofore in all the Spanish 
possessions in America, we must distinguish between the 
ecclesiastic, politico-military, and financial divisions. c 
will not add those of the judici.al hierarchy, which have 
created so much confusion amongst modem geographers, 
the^sland having but one xVndiencia, residing since the year 
1797 at Puerto Principe, whose jurisdiction extends from 
Baracoa to Cape Sati Antonio. The division into two 
bishoprics dates from 1788, ivhen Pope Pius VI. nominated 
t he first bishop of the ITavaunah. The island of Cuba was 
formerly, with Louisiana and Florida, under the jurisdictiou 
of the archbishop of San Domingo, and from the period of 
its discovery, it had only one bishopric, founded in 1518, in 
the most western part, at Baracoa, by Pope Leo X. The 
translation of this bishopric to Santiago de Cuba, took 
place four years later; but the first bishop. Fray Juan de 
Ubite, arrived only in 1528. In the beginning of the nine* 
