Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-06

Cuba-Manufaeturing sugar
In the So,thera Christiaa Adcocate we find
an interesting letter from an American in Cuba,
from which We extract the following. The
writer was guest at the sugar estate known
as the "Flower Of Cuba" and says:
This estate contains Ave thousand acres OF
productive lands. We rode for hours through
immense fields of sugar cane twelve to eigh-
teen feet high. These fields are divided by
beautiful avenues OF royal palm and mango
trees. Many of the trees are sixty 10 eighty
feet high, in the distance looking like white
marble columns. They commence cutting the
cane in December, and the top is used as food
for cattle In Louisiana the cane has to be re-
newed annually--here, once in ten or fifteen
years 1t is hauled in carts drawn By oxen to
the sugar MILL which is usually located in the
centre of the farm. The cane is passed be.
tween two large iron rollers, and the juice is
pressed out flowing through troughs into tanks,
10 be purified. II is next pumped into cisterns
and boiled to a syrup. On this estate they
make both clayed and Muscovado sugars. The
former is made in tin moulds, in the shape of
a funnel holding fifty pounds. These vessels
are filled with green sugar, on the top is
placed layer of clay two inches thick, and
they are left three weeks to drip and dry. The
clay is then removed, and you have loaf of
sugar, which is divided into three qualities.
The top being the whitest, it is placed in boxes
of four hundred pounds each, and is known in
the commercial world as Havana box sugar.
The best quality Of Muscovado sugar is
made by the centrifugal process. The raw
material is poured into machine which is
turned by steam with great rapidity. In a few
minutes you have well grained dry sugar,
IL al ~. Lor X. Oh,
ped to the United States, while the elayed
article goes mainly to Europe. Lime, blood,
and animal bones, are used in the manufacture
of sugar. The crushed cane is dried and serves
as fuel to heat the kettle in which the sugar
is boiled-wood being scarce article in this
part of the Island. Formerly the grinding was
done by OK power, but recently the American
engine has been introduced. The buildings
and machinery on this estate cost three hnnd-
red thousand dollars. They work eight hundred
hands, and about one thousand oxen, for FIVE
months in The year The mill runs night and
day--Snnday md Monday. Three hundred
acres are planted in vegetables, fruit, etc, for
the negroes. They will make this year twelve
thousand boxes and two thousand hhds sugar,
besides several thousand hhds. molasses. The
products OF This farm would be worth IN the
Charleston market, one million dollars! The
i
duty Of thirty dollars per hogshead, to pro-
tect the Louisiana sugar planters, before they
are permitted to sweeten iheircoliee with Cuban
sugar.
The family we're invited TO dinner party al
ST Helena, and said they would be pleased to
have me accompany them, assuring me OF
welcome. There had an opportunity of see
ing and hearing much of the manners and
customs OF the Cuban ladies'. | found them
intelligent and educated, aud as they spoke
English, was 30 much pleased with my visit
that spent several days at St Helena We
discussed Cuban manners freely and unreserv
eddy. / was pleased Ia be corrected where !
had formed erroneous opinions. When intro
duced to Creole lady, you think her fiat and
embarrassing. 1t is the fashion To appear rs
Indifferent a. possible--she. however, soon be-
comes animated, and then look out for those
bewitchng eyes ard that SOFT sweet voice.
The education Of the females is too much ne
elected, and then they are much restricted to
their intercourse with the world A very in
telligent gentleman told me that the men did
not wish to have their wives know as much as
they did. told him in our country ignorant
wives were the mothers Of dull, stupid boys.
In the lower classes the men and women are
both ignorant and INDECENT. They have no
ambition 10 improve their condition, morally
or hySically-generally living jn miserable
huts. The glory OF the men is to attend cock
and bull fights, gamble, and roll nine pins, and
the women smoke and idle their time. Not
book or newspaper is to be seen in their houses,
and they have no knowledge of the world be-
yond The prescribed limits of the Island. The
luxuriant flowers which cover their matched
cottages, afford no pleasure 10 the occupants
1t is waste of beauty and fragrance on IN
cultivated tastes. The higher classes will no
more associate with them than with their SER
wants.
You find among the educated Cubans a
burning hatred of the Spanish yoke, and they
are ready to throw il of, whenever they can be
assured a 9arrofie win not be their fate, but
this class is too feeble and closely watched TO
accomplish much, without foreign aid. know
several planters who pay twenty To thirty thou.
sand dollars taxes, and they have no more voice
or influence in the government than their
slaves The Captain General, Governors, and
all who are in command, are Spaniards and
appointed at the virtuous ~ Court of Madrid.
Every barrel Of -four imported from foreign
country pays duty Of ten dollars! and they
are not allowed to grow wheat on their own
land. Think Of little island like Cuba sup
porting standing army Of forty thousand sol
diers, WHO iatten and revel on the substance OF
this oppressed people! The wealfhiest planter
in Cuba is not permitted to go ten miles from
home without "permit" from Spanish
officer.
The Questton settled.