Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-06-11
Letters from Cuba.
BY THE REV LEANDER KER.


The following letters were writ en- du-
ring my residence in the island of Cuba, in
the year, 1885, and have been frequently
published in different sections of the Uni
ted States; and from the political impor-
lance that Cuba is now about to assume in
exciting the ambition and cupidty of Eng
land, who is determined 10 obtain it if she
can, the American people should understand
how intimately their own interests are con-
nected with any change or disposition that
may be made with this island: and, it is
singular fact, that we are better acquainted
with any of the maratime countries Of Eu-
rope, than we are with Cuba, although ly-
ing directly at our feet.
LETTER l.
In 1884 was advised by my physicians
to'make visit to the Yves! Indies, for the
benefit Of my health, and try the effects OF
its climate on my debilitated system, hav.
ing, prior TO this suffered every variety of
disease that the swamps and marshes OF
Florida are continually sending Sforth, to
shake the bones, waste the flesh, and fire
the blood and brains of those whom fortune
or fate has sent thither. Pursuant to this
advice, sailed from Apalachcola in Florida
for Havana, in Cuba, in the beginning Of
December, and most delightful voyage
we had of it; the gulf of Mexico, which
we crossed, being as smooth as some noun
tain-lake, reposing in the warm sunbeams,
unruffied by the mountain-breeze which
gently kisses its slumbering waters, with
out disturbing their repose. But owing to
the ignorance OF our navigators, we made
the cape Of San Antonio, the westernmost
promontory of Cuba, and hundred miles
west of Havana. This cape is celebrated
for its fine sea turtles, some of which weighs
500 pounds, and few years ago was as
celebrated for its pirates and piracies. 1t is
dreary looking spot; fit place for the
genius of crime and blood. San Antonio
is the patron saint of Spanish sailors, who,
when overtaken by storm, as l once had
the disagreeable opportunity of observing,
let all fly, and falling on THEN knees, call
upon Antonio, as loud as the priests OF Baal
called upon him, and with the same sue
cess; if they 60 to the bottom, or on shore,
as they generally do, it is the will of San
Antonio, if they outlive the storm, as they
did on the occasion referred to, they oscribe
all the glory to their patron saint, aId make
more vows to him than they ever pay
The Spanish sailors go on the credit sys-
tenn, and few saints, apprehend, can show
as long list of debtors as old San Anto-
MIA.
When I've discovered where we were,
we altered our course, and ran down the
o coast keeping close in shore after the man.
ner of the ancient navigators. This to me
was In the highest degree delightful. The
whole extent of this coast is superlatively
romantic, wild, magnificent and picturesque:
the bold and winding outline of the shore,
rising sometimes in rocky precipces many
hundred feet high, lringed on the SUBMITS
and garlanded along the chinks and crew.
ees with every variety of creeping ever
greens, flowers and shrubbery, as if woven
into festoons by some master hand in the
floral science, and SO it is for the hand Of
God has embelished and beautifed the
scene. And in other places, in doubling
some dark, frowning and lofty angle Of
some projecting promontory, there stretch
es away inland, some bright, sunny, seques-
tered vale, between overhangng mountains
as sweet as the tabled vale of Tempe, and
more gorgeous than a dream of eastern
Imagination, such an air of repose, such an
impression OF tranquility, such an atmos-
phere of Eden-like innocence, rests upon
the smiling landscape, ever redolent with
verna, Geauty, brilliant with summers
dorv. as tncngh sin had never breathed
Ris pestllentiaI breath there, or blackened
it's soil with the prints Of his Accusing foot
steps. What lovely cottages, what
beautiful villas, what magnificent pal
aces, empowered in perpetual verdure, and
ever blooming flowers! Standing on the
,, Oh Of our vessel, end gazing hour after
hour with increasing admiration and de,
light, as scene after scene presented nseli
10 my view, involuntarily exclaimed, cou,1
Eden's bowers be more lovely than this
and how often did the covetous aspiration
arise in my bosom, Oh that this Island were
ours! And IN the back ground Of all this
beauty and variety, swells the lofty noun
tains lowering in their majesty, many thou
sand feet in height, and clothed to their
submits in eternal green, reposng in their
calm and tranquil majesty, and grandeur,
in the mellow, and golden sunlight peculiar
TO this climate, and which no pencil can
describe. And now would we pass some
dark and gloomy ravine, some wild forest