Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-10-03
CUBA AND THE CCBANS.

The last number IS the North American Review
contains all Grtic!, respecting the Queen of the An
titles. which gives some interesting The
coast Of Cuba is inden,ed with fine harbors, the soil
is extraordinarily rich, and the temperature equable
and sRlubr;ous. The rainy season Is far from being
disagreeab!e, for the rain falls but an hour or two
each day, and the all la invignrating. There ae three
kinds Of soil-the black. the red and the mulntto-
all rich, and composed vi fine PARTICLES with little ad-
iesiycness. The dust OF the red soil will penetrate
clothing. and remain on the body after vigorous
scruhbing. In some places one may travel for miles,
wi:hou; meeting a stone. The principal trees are the
palm aud the Ceiba, or cotton tree; the latter OF which
grows over q hundred feet high, and sends forth
horizontal branches covered with thick foliage
The scenery around Matanzas is exceedingly beauti-
full.
Havana contains $4,000 inhnbitauts, and resen-
blcs an oriental city, The hUuses being chiefly s,onc
and stuccO, rarely more than two stories high. The
streets arc narrow, often with no sidewalks, which are
never over three feet wide. The carriage-ways ore
covered with q conglomcration Of limestone and &c.
ment, which make an irritating dust, and granite II
now being imported from New Englaud ut great eI-
pense, for pavements. The windows are without
glass, those on the ground floor being protected with
CRATES, behind which the inmates sit, and passers by
are allowed to stare ut the ladies as much az they
pleasc, they being exceedingly bold, mud considering
such observation a compliment. Houses OF different
classcs-hovels and palaces-adjoin each other, aud II
IL not uncommon for a rich man TO buy out hs neigh.
hor's right of building a second story, thus prevent
ing the obstruction Of his view aud air.
The population consists of Spaulards, Creoles, tree
colored, slaves and foreigners. The natives of OLD
Spain are the aristocrats aal hold al! the public places
they also manifest great contempt for the creole or
native population. There arc three classes of cars on
the rail roads. Gambling. cock-ti Citing, &c, is uni
rersal among all classes. The women also engage III
the lottery and indulge in smoking. The ladies' are
uneduca,ed and lead n imonotonous, unemployed life.
and are consequently subject - extraordinary freaks,
aud are kept under strict surveillance. The nobility
maintain expensive and ruinous establishments.
he trtylcS return hate for lnp contempt Ot tut
Spaniards, and Governments, it continually in fear OF
them, aud they are kept as much as possible III iSno-
rance.
In 1876 there were upwards OF 10000 blacks and
mulattoes, ouc-third of whom were free: the number
of whites was 425,OO0. The laws favor the acqulsi-
tinn of freedom by the blacks. their masters being
Obliged 10 permit them tO devote Il portion OF their
time and wages to this end. The slaves often also re-
sort 10 the lottery for the purpose OF obtaining money
TO purchase their liberty. During the dry season.
when the sugar is manufactured, the slaves on
plantations are severely worked, and the yearly NOR
iality among them is excessive, Frequently they rs
cape to the woods to lead Il wild life, or commit sui
eide, several of them together. Ii a slave is dissat.
isted with his master, he can compel the master to
sell him, at a price to be settled by referees.
The religious state Of Cuba il exceedingly low
there is little religion, and that entirely of a formal
kind. The priests frequent the cock-pIts, indulge i'll
many vices, and violate, without any attempt ut con,
cealment, their VOW Of chastity. ~lnfidclity prevails
10 a great extent.
The manner Of disposiug of tho dead shocks our
ideas OF ~proprie:y. The cemeteries are small the bo'
dies are carelessly inferred, several i'll one grave,
quick lime being sometimes thrown in to hasten de-
composition, and the bones are di$interrcd, and gath
cred into cEarncl houses, where they are burned
Often a coffin is merely used to carry the body TO the
grave, the body being cast in and the coffin takei
back 10 serve the same office for another.
The government Ui CSbn has been the same since
lSS9, Ccptsins.General being appointed 4! Intervals
OF about D years 81 have been appointed since that
time. Nearly all amass fortunes by conniving at the
slave trade, i~nsutu;ing monopclies, &c. Abou,
S20,O0o,O00 arc raised by tax for the support of an
expensive government. Besides this, the Cuban mus,
obtain license for any amusements at home, and for
travelling. He cannot entertain foreigners, or change
his residence, without notifying his government. Tie
powers Of the Captain General are almost absolute aud
arbitrary. He is sustained by q standing army, but
the military are only kept 10 proper subordination by
continually changing the localities OF regiments
There is q wide spread discomfort existing through.
ont the island. The government has no sympathy
with the people nor from them. The course Of poit.
ical events for several years past, both in this coun.
try and Cuba, seems TO certify that it is the manifest
destiny Of the island to become a member Of ouI
con:ederacy. In a commercial point of view the ad'
vantages to both from such an event would be e1'
ceedinSly great.-tNceark Daily Advertiser.