Eastern times., 1855-04-19
MistslIanp.
The Bright and Dark Side Of Cuba.


of,fshes, whose bright colors emulating the
tints of precious stones and the prismatic
hues of the rainbow, astonish the eye of the
stranger. Stately trees of various species, the
most conspicuous being the royal palm, rear
their luxriant foliage against the azure heav-
ems. aloag the sheltered bay, by the wayside,
on the swells of the haciendas, delighting the
eye Of the traveller, and diversifying the ever
charming face of the tropical landscape
Through the woods and groves fit a variety
of birds, whose dazzling colors defy the pal
cite of the artist. Here the loquacious par
rot utters his harsh natural note. There the
red fiamingo stands patiently by the shore Of
the lagoon, watching the waters-dyed by the
reflection of its plumage, for his unconscious
prey. 1t would require volume to describe
the vegetable, animal and mineral Kingdoms
Of Cuba. Among the most familiar birds, and
these the names of which, even the casual OBJ
server, Is apt to learn, are the Cuban robin,
the blue bird, the cat bird. the Spanish wood
pecker, the gaudy-plumed parrot, the pedo-
rcva, with its red throa. and breast and its pea
green head and body. There is also great
variety of wild pigeons, blue, gray and white
the English lady bird, as it is called, with a
blue head and scarlet breast, and green and
white back the indigo bird, the golden wing
cd woodpecker, the ibis, the faminge, and
many smaller species, like the humming bird.
Parrots settle on the sour orange trees when
the fruit is ripe, and fifty may be secured, by
a net, at time. The Creoles stew and eat
them as we do the pigeon the flesh is rather
tough, and as there are plenty of fine water
and marsh birds, about the lagoons, which are
the most tender and palatable, one is at loss
to account for the taste that leads the people
to eat the parrot. The brown pelican is very
plenty on the sea coast, like the gull OF our
own shores, and may be seen at all times
sailing lazly over the sea, and occasionally
dipping for fish. Here the vulture is protect
ed by law, being sort Of natural scavenger
The agriculturists of the island confine their
attention almost solely to the raising of su-
gar, coffee and tobacco, almost entirely neg
iecting Indian corn (which the first settlers
found indigenous here) and but slightly at
tending 10 the varieties of the orange 1t is
scarcely creditabe that, when the generous
soil produces from two TO three crops annu-
ally, the vegetable wealth of this island should
be so poorly developed. 1t is capable of sup
porting population of almost any destiny and
yet the largest estimate gives only million
and half of inhabitants On treading the
tile soil, and on beholding the clustering fruits
offered on all sides, the delicious oranges, the
perfumed pine apples, the luscious bananas,
the cooling cocoa-nuts, and other fruits for
which our language has no name, we are
struck with the thought of how much Provi-
dence, and how little man has done for the
Eden of the Gulf. We long to see it peo-
pied by men who can appreciate the gifts of
nature, men who are willing TO do their part
in reward for her bounty, men who will meet
her half way and second her spontaneous eff
forts.
Nowhere on the face Of the globe would in-
telligent labor meet with richer reward-no-
where on the face of the globe would repose
from labor be SO sweet. The hour OF rest
here sinks upon the face of nature with pc
euiiar charm; and night breeze comes with
: its gentle wing to fan the weary frame, and no
danger turks in its career. 1t has free scope
through the unglazed windows. Beautifully
blue are the heavens, and festaily bright the
stars of tropical night. Pre-eminent in
briliiancy among the consultations is the
Southern Cross, a galaxy of stars that never
ereets us in the North. At midnight, it,
pIittering framework stands erect that sol.
emn hour passed, the Cross declines. How
glorious the night where such heavenly sen.
1inel indicates its watches! Cubais, indeed 3
land of enchantment, where nature is beauti-
fnl, and where existence is a luxury; but il
requires the infusion of sterner, more self.
deaying and enterprising race to fully test its
capabilities, and to astonish the world with
Sts Productiveness.
We have thus dilated upon the natural re
sources of Cuba, and depicted the charms tina
rest upon her; but every picture has its darE
side, and the political situation of the Islam.
10 the reverse in the present instance. He
wrongs are mukHarious, and the restrictions
placed upon her by her oppressors are eacl
and all of SO heinous and tyrannical charac
ter, that a chapter upon each would be insuf
ficient TO place them in their true light befor
the world. There is, however, 10 better wa,
of placing the grievances of the Cubans, a
smanating from the home government, clear
ly before the reader, than by stating such o
them as occur readily to the writer's mind, Ii
brief. She is permitted no voice in the Cor
tes the press is under the vilest censorship
farmers are compelled to pay ten per cent. 70
all their harvest except sugar, and on that al
hcle two and half per cent. I; the island ha
been under martial lay since 1926 owe
$25, ,000, 900 Of taxes are levied upon the in
habitants, to be squandered by Spain ice
monopolized by the government -four is take
90 high as to be inadmissible; Creole mus
purchase license before he can invi.e fe,
friends to take cup of tea at his board ther
is stamped paper, made legally, necessar