Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-06-07
From the n, o. Delta.
Z TOM tue N. q. DeIJa.
Scuba and the Cubnns."


Scuba and Cubnns.'
Such is the title of an octave volume which has
recently been issued from the press From the pres
attitude of that Island and the statistical and
other information it contains it is attracting much
attention few statistical facts, extracted from it,
will be acceptable to readers =
The population of Cuba in 1871, was about l.
000 900 nearly equally divided between the blacks
and the whites Since then, it is said that the popu
laon has actually decreased near 100000, confined
mostly to the blacks.
It's area is about 55, 900 square miles; taking into
the estimate the adjacent islands or keys which be-
long to it, it is "a 900 square miles, and above 40
100000 acres of the richest and best land in the
world.
It's products consist of everything almost that
grows upon the continent, proper of America, and
in addition to every variety Of tropical plant and
fruit indigenous to the Western world, to say moth
ing of exotics.
| Copper mines are being worked there to great adj
vantage; only few months ago a rich mine of lead,
with silver discovered which promises to be We
ry profitable and deposits of native gold have been
discovered in the banks of the rivers in the Western
portion of the Island Coal is found in the neghbor-
hood of Havana. Immense deposits of salt arc found
all the coasts of the Island, which would open
profitable fountain to labor and industry, but for the
exhorbitant duties imposed by the government-$2
so for every two hundred pounds. There is also
abundance of sulphur loadstone, granite clay. flint,
pal branches of wealth in the Isle of Pines where
quarries have been worked with great success.
Exquisite fish abound On all the coasts, rivers and
streams, and innumerabe 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 esti
mated at 500 900 O00 and the enormous taxes which
are yearly extorted from her inhabtants amounting
to near S25 10000 about $40 900 900 of which goes
into the treasury of the mother country-thus show
| he mr. &c
on the face OF the earth To American, it is Won
derful that they should have long endured it in ST.
lence.
! For its fine climate, it is proverbial. The mean
temperature at Havana for the year,
(Fahrenheit) is. ..............7
The warmest month 50
Inc couesI' ...'''.' ~
From the educational statistics, presented by the
census of 1871, (the last taken.) should judge
that there deplorabe state of ignorance among
| the great bulk of the population. The white and
free coored inhabitants represented at ST, 127
The number of schools was 900, and 9,O82 children
Instructed in them and this out of the number
of 500 children between five and fifteen years of
age, being about ten per cent of the whole number,
proportion of one educated child to every sixty
three of the free inhabitants
| We will close this brief notice with enumera-
ton OF few of the grievances and expressions under
which this tax-ridden people groaning and then
advise every one who wishes to know anything of
Cuba and the Cubans to 60 to Mr. Littles bookstore
and buy this book.
| The farmers have to pay % per cent. on sugar,
and 10 per cent. their other harvests when gath
cred the is paid by all engaged in raising live
stock, for all their cattle, exclusive Of the charges
arising from exportatiOn
There is a tax of 81 Is upon every fancga (about
hundred weight) of salt, which the price of
that article to be raised to an mmoderate sum.
The Cuban pays to g. per cent of the value of
any slave or any property in town or country, that
he may sell besides all other charges of notaries of
| registration, of stamped paper, &C. &c.
There is stamped paper for a special purpose, the
use of which is enforced by the government and sold
at the price of eight dollars every sheet and it is
necessary solemn oath to prove ones poverty, in
order to be admitted to the of cheaper paper,
sheet OF which costs six cents.
No one can have in his house any company or a.
musement of any Sort if he does not solicit, obtain
and pay for license, go 5O,) or he must submit to
be mulcted for an infraction Of the regulations.
Every inhabtant is compelled to ask for license,
and pay for the same, when he wants 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 his way, the nfraction OF which law is
punished with immediate arrest, and fine of eight
dollars.
He is not permitted to lodge 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 in
to another without giving notice previously to the
authorities Of his intention, under penalty of a
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
driven to the expedient of proving i'll health,
feigning it, in their children, in order to obtain pass
ports for them.