The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-05-01

night advanced, until 10 o'clock, when a
large black cloud in the North West be-
tokened an approaching Storm and the
ships crew were all summoned to the
deck. Presently the wind howled, large
drops Of rain commenced falling, a red
glare of fire streamed in quick success
ion through the troubled armament, and
the white caps rooled mountains high,
threatning our little bark with speedy,
vengeance from Heavens artillery. FoH
two hours did the storm rage with una-|
bated fury, tossing US aboat from place
to place and creating among a portion of
our California boys terror and excite
ment not expected from those who had
voluntarily undertaken an expedition to
that distant cline. By and by the sky
broke away, the wind subsidized, and after
time the sea rolled down. No one
interposed an objection, although it left
us in almost dead calm. On the 10th a
somewhat novel occurrence took place
among US. Some one followed out land
over the bow. A rush was made for the
deck. A division of sentiment was at
once manifested as to the truth of the re-
port. The sides were about equally d.
vided. From pleasant difference Of O.
plnion, soon arose a lively excitement.
and an offer to bet fifty dollars was Of
fered and taken, twenty-five was also Of
fered and taken--numerou bets from one
to ten followed in rapid succession. The
excitement for four or five hours was in
tense. Each side manifested equal GER
talnty OF success. The appearances full
ly justified this state offeelings, for moth
ing ever appeared better calculated to de-
celve. 10 many,it appeared like huge
dense mass Of black clouds piled upon
each other thousands Of feet high. To
others equally sanguine it appeared like
mountains rising above each other until
they appeared to kiss the very Heavens.
For FIVE long and tedions hours, were we
IN doubts to this singular phenomenon
At length 1t became apparent that we
were approaching land How quick did
the countenances Of our little company
change. The change was sudden and
complete. Where doubt had marked its
victim, success now lent playful smile,
and where JOY moment before had
CLEANED in hopeful security, disappon1-
mens and despair now found its way
We had approached within ten miles of
the southern coast Of Cuba, and could
plainly discern the City Of Trinidad9~
We run to within two miles Of the Shore
and could measure with reasonable GER
talnty the dimensions of the City, and the
orange and cocoa nut groves. In this
part of the Island there are also large
groves Of CEDAR and mahogany. Did you
ever see one Of these cocoa nut trees? il
not, let me describe one. They are from
twenty 10 thirty feet high, with small
trunk entirely bare Of branches except
at the top, and resembles much in ap
pearance an ostrich plume. l am told
that the mode Of gathering this fruit, is
by sending monkies which are plenty
upon the Island, into the trees and claw
ing them off: Trinidad is place Of a
bout six thousand Inhabitants, is situated
upon an elevated piece Of ground, com
mands an extensive view Of the sea, and
is surrounded by mountains of from six
to eight thousand feet above the sea.
had almost forgotten to mention thai
Trinidad is also noted for its fine crops o.
sugar and coffee. shall now indulge 6
short respite from my labors. 1t is tc
give our little bark chance to reach ia
malca where we shall archor for day
or so where will resume my task
Should the wind favor our design of stop
ping at Jamaica, it will be acceptable t
me on more accounts than one. FRS
because am tired Of the sea, second, be-
cause wish to procure some fruit, ant
last, but not least, because it will affor(
: me an opportunity of mailing this lette
! 10 you and one to my dear -. S,
farewell until reach Jamaica.
We reached the West point Of Jamaic;
| on the 18th. We drifted around the
western coast Of that island until the
Ievening Of 18th, when a brisk lane
lbreeze sprang up and drove US off in the
fdirection Of Chagres. While in the vi
entity of the island we had no wind ia
| voraole to making landing: so that
was disappointed in paying court to the
sooty lords of that rich and fertile island
| saw nothing which particularly attrac
ted my admiration, except the range O
high mountains upon the coast, so wsel,
calculated to protect the island from in
undation. | am told that there has beer
a sad falling off in productive industr.
upon the island since the abolishing O
slavery. The negroes have become
reckless, indolent, dissipated. So much f.
that British philanthropy, which frees it
foreign blacks and enslaves the domestic
whites. Their negroes Of Jamaica ar
converted into landlords and stock job
ers, while their own brothers at hom
are never permitted to escape the eter
nal darkness Of their mining dungeons
L.. L 1