The North-Carolina standard., 1850-06-12
SCUBA AND THE CUBANs."

SCUBA AND THE CUBANS.'
; Such is the title of an octave volume, which ha
recently been issued from the press From the pres
ent attitude of the Island, and the statistical and 9th
er Information it contains, is attracting much atten
ton. few statistical facts, extracted from it, vii
be acceptable to our reades
The population of Cuba, in lS4l, was about 900,
600; nearly equally divided between the blacks ane
whites. Since then, it is said, that the population
has actually decreased near 100000 confined mostly
to the blacks.
Its area is about 5000 square miles taking into
the estimate the adjacent islands keys which be-
long to it, it is 64 900 square miles and above 40,
000, 900 acres of the richest land in the world.
Its products consist of every thing almost thai
grows upon the continent, proper, of America and ir
addition of every variety Of tropical plant and fruit
If indgeous to the Western world, to say nothing o
| exotics. ....
Copper mines are being worked there to great ad-
vantage; only few months ago rich mine of lead
with silver was discoved which promises be very
profitable, and deposits Of native gold have been dis
covered in the banks of the rivers in the Western
portion of the Island. Coal is found in thu neigh
borhood of HAVANA. Immense deposits Of salt are
found on all the coasts of the Island, which would
open profitable fountain to labor and industry but
for the exorbitant duties imposed by the government
-$2 so for every two hundred pounds. There is
also abundance of supher loadstone, granite, clay,
flint, crystal and marble; this latter is of the
principal branches of wealth in the Isle of Pines,
where quarres have been worked with great success.
Exquisite fish abound on all the coasts, rivers and
streams, and innumerable varieties of wild fowl are
to be found in the woods and lakes.
AS to the products and wealth of this Island, they
can be judged by her immense trade, which is est-
mated at $780, 900; and the enormous taxes which
are yearly extorted from her Inhabitants amounting
near sc, 900, about 20 900 900 of which goes
into the treasury of the mother country-thus show
ing that they the most enormously taxed people
the face of the earth To an American is wonder
full that they should have long endured it in silence
perature at Havana for the year, (Fahrenhei is II
The warmest month 81
From the educational statistics, presented by fhe
census of 1871, (he last taken) should Judge that
there deplorabe state of ignorance among the
great bulk of the population. The white and free
colored inhabitants were represented at The
number of schools was 222, and 9O82 children were
instructed in them; and this out Of the number Of
SO, 500 children, between five and fifteen years of age
being about ten per cent. of the whole number, or
proportion of educated child to every sirtytree
| of the free inhabitants.
We will close this 'briet notice with an enumera-
ton of few of the grievances and expressions un-
der which this tax-rdden people are groaning.
The farmers have to pay 81 per cent. sugar, and
10 per cent their other harvests, when gathered
the same is paid by all engaged in raising live STOCK
for all their cattle, exclusive of the charges arising
| from an expectation.
There is tax of 81 95 upon every fanega (about
hundred weigh) of salt, which causes the price of
that article to be raised to an immoderate sum-
The Cuban pays to 81 per cent. of the value of
any slave or any property in town or country, that
he may sell besides all other charges of notares,
of registration, of stamped paper, &C., &c.
There is stamped paper for special purpose, the
use of which is enforced by the government, and
sold by it at the price of eight dollars every sheet;
and 1t is necessary on solemn oath to prove ones
poverty in order to be admitted to the use of cheap
| er paper. sheet of which costs six cents.
No one can have in his house any company of
amusement of any sort: if he does not solicit obtain
and pay for license (S2 5O,) he must submit to
be mulcted for an infraction of the regulations.
Every inhabitant is compelled ask for license,
and pay for the same when he wants to go from the
place of his residence. ..-
No citizen, however peaceful and respectable he
may be, is allowed to walk through the city after 10
o'clock in the evening, unless he carry with him
lantern. and successfully obtains leave of all the
watchmen on his way, the infraction of which law
dollars.
He is not permitted to &c any person in his house
for single night, either native foreigner, be the
same friend or member of his family, without
giving information of the same also under the penal
|ty of like punishment.
He cannot remove his residence from one house
into another, without giving notice previously the
authorities of his intention, under penalty of
heavy fine.
An order has been made which in effect prohibits
parents from sending their children to the United
States for purposes of education; and such parents
are driven to the expedient of proving i'll health, or
eigning it, in their children in order obtain pass
ports for them.
Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN. We have, with regret,
seen in of the northern papers reflections cast
upon the of this distinguished gentleman with
respect to the pending sectional controversy
sing him of pursuing, secretly, course calculated
to prevent the passage of the compromise. 1t is al
legged that he has written letter urging the South
10 insist upon the Missouri compromise as the sine