SPANISH SLATE TEADE. 
2 12 
tioTis. If tha census, no doubt imperfect, of 1775, yielded 
15,562 female, and 29,366 male slaves, we must not forget 
that that enumeration comprehended the totality of the 
island, and that the sugar plantations occupy even now but 
a quarter of the slave population. After the year 1795, the 
Considailo of the Havannali began to be seriously occupied 
with the project of rendering the increase of the slave popu- 
lation more independent of the variations of the slave-trade, 
^on I rancisco Arango, whose views were ever characterized 
by wisdom, proposed a tax ou the plantations iu which the 
number of slaves was not comjirised of one-tliird females, 
lie also proposed a tax of six piastres on ev'ery negro brought 
into the island, and from which the women \ne<jras hozales) 
should be exempt. These measures were not adopted, 
because the colonial assembly refused to employ coercive 
means ; but a desire to promote marriages, and to improve 
the condition of the children of slaves, has existed since that 
period, when a cedula real (of the 22nd April, 1801) recom- 
mended those objects to tire conscience and humanity of 
the plantei-s.” 
The first introduction of negroes into the eastern part of 
the island of Cuba, took place in 1521, and their number did 
not exceed 300. The Spaniards were then much less eager 
lor slaves than the Portuguese ; for, in 1539, there was a 
sale of 12,000 negroes at Lisbon, as in our days (to the 
eternal shame of Christian Europe) the trade iu Greek 
slaves is carried on at Constantinople and Smyrna. In the 
sixteenth century the slave-trade was not free in Sjiain ; 
the privilege of trading, which was granted by the court, was 
purchased m 1586, for all Spanish America; by Caspar de 
Peralta; in 1.595, by Gomez Eeynel ; and in i015, by An- 
tonio Itodriguez de Eh-as. The total importation then 
amounted to only 3500 negroes annually; and the inha- 
bitants of Cuba, who were wholly engaged in reariiif*' cattle, 
scarcely received any. During the war of succession, Erench 
ships were accustomed to stop at the Havanuah and to 
exchange slaves for tobacco. The Asiento Geaty with the Eng- 
lish in some degree augmented the introduction of negroes ; 
yet in 1763, althoiigli the taking of the llavannah and the 
sojourn of strangers gave rise to new wants, the number of 
Caves in the jurisdiction of the Havanuah did not aniount 
