The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-07
Puerto Principe.
Correspondence Of the Herald.l
PUERTO PRINCIPE, Oct. %, 1913.
"Thp Bairn OR the Br1e f"


''1he BARN DER the Brae"
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,
Puerto Principe, as | have limited before, con
tans about 1900 inhabitants, the greater part of
whom are blacks. 1t isthe residence of Govern
or and lntendenty, and the high court of the cen
trail section of the island is held here Among the
most influential of the citizens, they number two
Marquisses and two or three Counts, whose dwell
ngs must say, do not hardly correspond with the
high-sounding titles they bear
| have seen the interior OF of their houses,
with such furniture as poor mechanic of the north
would not be contented with. Rudely made cow
hide chairs were the most frequently used IN the
parlor--oa the walls were pasted some badly color
ed engravlngs of undressed males and females, and
on the Imprinted doors, large sheets OF an alma
mack. ! have seen the family, consisting OF n hus-
band, wife, and blooming young marquesita, seated
in the courtyard, where fowls, pigs, and naked
negro children, mingled promlscuously with IT.
There are no manufactures here except OF cigars,
and there Is but very little money. Most OF the
wealth of the inhabitants consists in cattle and
lands. The people proverbal forparslmonlous-
ness and III all negotiations resort to every species
of banterlng TO save or make real, twelve and
half cents. They never pay out money II they can
help it, unless it be in law suits, for which they
have, and have had from time immemorlal, most
marvellous and uncomfortable passion. Persons
living in town usually have yard attached to the
these lay, the eggs sent out one by one to pur-
chase the necessaiies of life. Should they be
wealthy enough to have place IN the country,
where they raise cattle, then they retail the meat
out at the front door. A marquis house has a
meat shop IN one end OF IT.
Education is at an exceedingly low sandard-in
fact may say that ignorance reigns supreme
A young man of good standing, IN fashionable so
ciety, who took voyage with me two years ago to
the United States, did not know whether our
course should be North or South to arrive there
neither could he find out on a large map OF the
world the position of his mother country, Spain,
and though the port of Neuvltas, from which we
sailed does not enter than forty vessels an
nualy, yet this same youth thought that every yes
sci he saw at sea must necessarily be bound for
that port.
Ali mercantile business is in the hands of people
from Old Spain, mostly Castlan; L he Gre
oles are too proud 10 work, believing that labor
was designed for slaves only, and industry no ways
commendabe-in fact, beneath the dignity of the
descendants of CastlIan nobility. Indeed they APP
pearto feel that they the most elegant sagacous
and intelligent people the whole round OF the uni
verse. They take very little interest in foreigners,
believing that they come from barbarous countries,
and can have no information to lmpart to them and
they consequently manifest the most perfect lndif-
ference to the manners and customs OF other nations
On showing one of them an engraving OF the Astor
| House, he supposed it to be mud wall about as
| high as one of their one story buildings, and from
old age had lots of holes Knocked IN It. Another,
on seeing engraving of Thames Tunnel, asked
! gold cigar holder up through where the key stone
usually is placed, which would take the carriages.
foot passengers and all into the bed of the river
| The morality of the place Is such as usually ac-
companies ignorance and prestcraft and non-nter-
course with the world. The marriage vow is but
little regarded and has little force or influence any
way. 1t is SAID that out of the eighty or ninety
clergymen of this place, who are sworn to cellbacy
there but very few who not fathers and that
too not in the spiritual sense. But, Notwithstanding
this, they have great influence, and Catholicism is
| tolerated, and Catholicism only.
The people superstitious that when priest
rides along the street, bearing what is called the
host, for aught that any one knows, nothing but
little bell, which he tinkles as he goes, they all dis
mount from their carriages, that is if they are Ii
ding and happen TO meet the dlgnitary, and kneel
down in the dirt, as do those also, who walk
ing. The same humiliation Is submitted TO when a
| wooden virgin, dressed up IN gaudy attire, with
Jewels &c. is carried along on the shoulders of
men, accompanied by priests and nggers bearing
| candles
| One day, as was riding with friend, we met
with an old rafting vehicle in which sat vulgar
| looking priest. On each side were walking numer-
| Gus ragged urchns and men, both black and white,
carrying lanterns, though it was broad day One
| of the number tinkled the bell. The Calesero,
who rode my horse, being accustomed to see such
| sights. Immediately stopped, dlsmounted and
kneeled down. As for myself, ] sat quietly con-
templatng the scene though on seeing the others
with their hats off, had involuntarlly taken off
mine, out of respect to, ! knew not what. Well,
the priest seeing quiet, began, before he came
even near me, TO cry out in great fury for and
| my fair companion to dlsmount; and the nearer he
came the greater fury he appeared to be in, till he
seemed likely to burst with rage Finally, his gogy
stopped but not his mouth, nor the overlooking of
his anger, which remained unabated-while ], in
my GOODNESS, was inwardly laughing TO think that
the old fool was spending his breath one who
had inherited something of the spirit of his ances-
tors, who had shaken of yoke the sons were not
likely again soon to acknowledge. Presently one
of the foot passengers came to his relief, by say
ing we were English and did not understand; with
which explanation, though he knew the man lied,
his wrath was little appeased, and he ordered his
carriage to proceed
Is it not strange, that when nearly all of the civil
| lied nations are walking in the light and bright
ness and beauty of the glorious reformation, and
in the enlghtening spirit of free and liberal insu
tons, that this people, without being allowed to
search out for themselves the right ways laid down
in the holy volume, submit to the dictates of Ii
centous priesthood, spend their days in ignorance
and in the performance of Illuminating and degrad-
ing ceremonies, and die, having complied perhaps
with all the outward forms of the church, but with
| hearts untouched, unchanged-corrupt, defiled
Dios g,,drde pm muchas anos.
| SARDIS.