The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-14
Puerto Principe. e..
Correspondence OF the Herald.

PUERTO PRINCIPE, Feb. ~, 1874.
| Voyage in an Island Steamer Mysterious Stranger
The Pirate Of the Pines-Another Haidee.
In my last terminated my remarks, at least for
the present, Puerto, Principe; and If you think
they worthy OF the ink it took to print them,
may, perhaps find some excuse for troubling you
with further notes made some time since in voy-
age round the Island Of Cuba. will begin in the
middle, as it happens to be the handiest.
On the evening Of the ed OF December, went
through the agreeable process of packing my trunk
paying my bills, parting with my friends, procuring
porter and passport, and proceeding board the
! steamer which had that morning arrived from Ha-
vana, and now lay in the snug harbor of Trinidad
for Santa Cruz old The boat the v
| sold off from one of the Mississippi line
| of steamers, as being too rotten and ricket-
ty for further service, now new vamped up,
found it exceedingly filthy in every part, and the
cabin literally filled with luggage. There were
| many passengers on board most of whom were on
their way TO ST. Jaso, and about sixty negroes be,
| longing to a house OF some notOrlcty principal
| in the Amistad affair There was also on board a
| short sick-set man, with heavy beard and mus
| taches, interesting from the commission he held
| from Government, which was to discover and ar
those notorious robbers which infest the Island
| and elude the general search. He was now bound
| to the Isle OF Pines, where he supposed a well
known pirate was StcTeteu, WIN lovely OduSn-
ter of a mad Count, Of one of the interior cities.
The cruelty and sternness of strange father, who
had bought his title, and did not know how to use
it, and the deprivation of society could not be
broOked by the fair romantic child, who took oc-
casion to eIope with the first inanoranta, who,
with well tuned guitar in the wiching hours Of
night, persevercd In begulllng her OF her sleep,
till he filled all her dreams, waking and sleeping;
and when she was convinced that he truly loved
her, which was all she thought necessary, though
in truth it was she who loved him, there was no
difficulty, by bribiny the slaves, in accomplishing
the rest and she fed, she knew not whittier, nor
with whom; nor, perhaps, to that very hour in the
artlessness OF her untutored heart, was there tn,
least shadow of suspicion that she was lost to the
world, by being the illicit bride OF an outlawed sub
numerous evils which arise from the bad education,
or no education at ALL Of the female portion of the
Creole society OF Cuba.
The night was cold and damp, and the wind
blew chillingly over the deck, our only retreat !;
and when it grew late, began to wonder where we
should sleep, as the use OF the cabin was out Of
the question. Presently some folded their coaks
around them, and spread themselves about in dffe-
rent places, the seats and under the seats, and
the tables and under the tables (hese those
who were accustomed to travel in Cuba), and
when all these hooks aud humble retreats were fill
ed, cots were brought up and arranged in close
| der, with one sheet each, along the unoccupled
avenues. singled out the place least exposed to
the night air and drlzzly rain, which then commence
| ed falling partly undressed and laid down. But
ere morning came, dreamed that was aspen
| leaf, shaken by an autumn wind and awoke with
the ague yet thinking that an earthquake had pas.
sed that way, and set the world shiverlng, did
not atrst complain; but when, to my regret found
that was the only individual concerned in the vi
bration, /, in English, blessed the boat and the
| wretches who had provided me with such airy
comforts. The day following, a raging fever was
my warm companion, though the cold blasts from
the northward gave tlnge OF blue to the sallow
visages of my fellow yoyagers: Night came again,
and was seriously i'll, and ] felt sure that, like
IL. <,f had al
strangers, without friend or even medical advi-
ser. Providence, however, watched over me, and
on the following morning was landed at Santa
Cruz, where, through the commander OF the port,
to whom had letter,I procured Il most hosplta-
bic reception into the house OF young Scotch gen
,leman by the name of Orr. There was no phys-
cian in the place, but there was cooper who was
known to have sometimes used the lancet like II
son OF Escuapius, and he was Immediately sent
tor, and though rather bungng in the operation, he
succeeded in extracting sufficient blood to relieve
| my head very considerably, which, with the very
KIND attentions shown me by my new acquaintance
and good Samaritan, made my recovery seem
| somewhat probable.
In a few days was able TO examine the town,
which accomplished in a few moments.
santa Cruz de Cuba consists Of one long row OF
low matched mud and board houses, built along
the sandy beach, which forms its only street. In
front lays a broad and beautiful bay, difficult of en-
ficuIt to get out Of in the rainy season
Santa Cruz has no hotel no boarding house, no
well or spring Of water, and no physician, and il
almost without the neccssarics of life. Fish. how
ever, of an excellent quality can be procured by
fishing, and there is some fine wild game on the
neighboring islands
Most of the business of this place was formerly
done by one house. which purchased the sugars
of one or two estates in the INTERIOR and honey and
palm leaf from different places along the coast
But trade has lately much decllsed, the principal
house a branch of a rich Scotch concern IN ia
maca, having failed, from too heavy Pccnlai'ons
in sugars, in anticipation of change in the duty on
ihai article in England, which did not take effect
The land back of Santa Cruz is exceedingly lc-
vel for great distance, and but little redeemed by
tilage, though much Of it would admit OF a high
| state of cultivation.
| Up<dr rpt con ,lio.' EAlDJS