Washington sentinel., 1856-03-18
From The Southern Christian Advocate.
L.ro I'm the Island of Cukn.

Mr. EpIToR extended my visit from Flor
de Cuba further Sonth, to Porupa, and several
other large sugar estates, receiving the con
tiuued kiud huspitalites Of the planters. Ny
visit to the interior Of the Island has been al
together very interesting and agreeable. Their
houses, tables, carriages and servants, are at
your command, and if you don't have il good
time, it is yonr own fault. Here, y lover Of
the beautiful in nature, can be grati6ed TO his
hearts content. found it delightful to take
early morning strolls through The large gar
dens, plucking the ripe fruit from the trees.
The sweet orange is my favorite. The lemon
does not flourish so well. At Alva, counted
forty varieties Of fruit
went to several dinner paries---the hour for
dining is from to 8 o'clock. Their cooking
is too rich for me, and they mix garlic and
onions, and onions and garlic, III nearly every
dish. 1t looked out Of season in mid winter,
to see spread before ron, green peas, corn,
potatoes and all the summer vegetables of orr
climate. After you have parlaken Of fish, pork,
beet turkey, sweatmcas, jellies. and fruits, lin
the meantime having your plate changed a
dozen times,) the cloth is removed, and you
wind up on coffee, segars, &c The ladies do
not leave the table, but occasionally eniov
a ciearto. They regarded me rs a sort of out
side barbarian, as | could not join in drinking
and smoking. Wine is universally used here,
BAT they seldom drink TO in,oxication.
In this hot climate, the negroes live mainly
on fruit and vegetables. They are allowed
salted fish and beef, but no bacon. Rice is
cultivated on the uplands, and grows in The
wet season. Ii seldom rains here in the
winter, but in summer it comes down in tor
rents, making the roads in this limestone
country almost impassable Miss Bremen SAYS:
No one need fear the night here; it is not
cold; it has no dew" IF she had taken some
early rides with me, she would certainly have
seen the morning dew drops on the beautiful
flowers. In the dry season, vegetation is kept
alive and green by the refreshing dews.
did not like 10 see the amalgamatiou that
is going on here, II is lawful for a Cuban TO
have wife and mongrel children. But If a
white manywil 90 TO Africa for a wife, see no
reason why his children should not be his heirs.
This is the Spanish view ofthc question. and n
law was made - correspond, aud commend
them for il. There IS marked partialty
among the Creoles for the SouIherners thev
know we are sound on the Nebraska question.
l-iind quite n number Of planters from the
United States residing here, and they nearly
all hail from the free States. II is said they
make the hardest masters, but of that / have
no evidence. know Alr. .F.'s servants we're
very much distressed when he sold ont, Cor the
purpose OF returning to Boston. The Queens
mother owned the largest sugar estate on the
Island, but became involved, aud sold il to a
very enterprising Spaniard This gentleman
was ambitious 10 make large crops, aud prom.
ised his overseer fifty thousand dollars when he
made Eve thousand hogsheads Of sugar, and
last year they made five thousand five hundred.
Ii is said the negroes were worked so hard
that three hundred died; but this calamity was
charged to cholera, and doubt not that fatal
disease was the main cause OF the mortality.
Bat apart from the religious views Of the
question, thr political importance OF Cuba 10
the United States cannot be easily over esti.
mated Ii commands the Gulf Of Mexico. and
is almost within cannon shot Of the Florida
coast. England aud France are watching, with
jealous eye, Our every movement. Their war
ships are to be seen in oil the ports. They
profess to be on the look ont for African slaves;
at the same time they are aiding in the intro
duction of slavery Of The worst kind. When
the Spanish officials 6red into our ship and in.
suited the American flag. that was the time TO
have put this garden Of Spain into our pocket;
We may never have such an opportunity again.
The planters are getting one hundred per
cent. more for sugar and molasses this year
than last. Sugar cane is king here. The to.
bacco crop is next in value. II is estimated
that the productions Of Cuba this year will be
worth one hundred millions Of dolarsi The
populaiion1s fifteen hundred thousand. The
island is capable Of supporting ten times that
number Of inhabitants. Railroads are being
built in every direction; somo six hundred
miles are already completed. Steamboats, also
are constantly running on the northern and
southern coasts. ] was surprised TO find here
such high mountains, from which, clear noun.
tain rivnleis come fumbling into the valleys.
furnishing pure wholesome water Next week
20 TO fucatan. ] want TO look at the old
" ruins Of that country.
Yours, truly, G.. w. w.