The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-03-23
TIE ISLAND OF CUBA.

the entrance to the Gulf Of Mexico, whence
it has been called the key of the West
Indies. 1t is about seven hundred miles
in length and seventy in breadth, and con-
tains, with its dependencies, 81, SN7 square
miles, being nearly equal in extent to Great
Britain.
The climate is delightful and very healthy
for which reason it is a favOrite resort of
invalids. Even on the top of the Grande
Antilla, the chief range of mountains run
ming through the island from end to end,
there has scarcely ever been ice, and then
only few lines thick. The seasons are
not distinguished as summer and winter.
but as the wet and dry, though the periods
at which they begin and end are not very
well defined. The rainy season common
ly begins in May but sometimes in April,
occasionally not till June.
The soil is very fertile, but, as in many
other tropical countries, the people are too
sluggish to cultivate it to any great extent
The cEief agricultural productions are
sugar, coffee, tobacco, manico and maize.
The work on plantations is done almost
exclusively by negroes, whose condition is
far worse than that of the slaves in the
United States. The whipping-post is in
constant use. AS an instance of the great
fertility of the soil, Trumbull states that
in tie District Of Suga la Granda, cabaL-
lerja of land, which is nearly equal to
thirty three acres, has been knownto pro-
duce two hundred and eighty thousand
pounds of the fair colorcd, Muscovado
sugar of that country, being nearly equal
to four moderate sized hogsheads per
acre.
The population are made up of Creo!es
and egroes, the latter forming about one
third The Creolcs, like their Spanish an
cestors, are intelligent and indolent; the
negroes are not allowed to be either.
There are in the island several excel
lent copper, iron, and coal mines, which
would be very productive if we'll worked.
Small quantities of gold and silver has also
been found Since the introduction of bees
between sixty and seventy years ago.
honey and wax have been important articles
of trade. Manufactures have been much
neglected.
Of domestic animals, the OK, the horse,
and the pig, are the most useful, and form
large part of the wealth of the country.
The oxen are SO numerous that many of
them have run wild; and they are hunted fer
the sake of their hides and tallow, which
are sent to Spain.
OF domestic fowls, chickens are the most
numerous; though the goose, turkey, pea
cock, and pigeon are well known. The
English game cock is much prised for his
fighting talents. 1t will be remembered
that Santa Annals chief amusement, when
in Cuba, was cock fighting.
There are many fine turtles on the shores
of the island, from which the best tortoise
shell are obtained. Fresh fish of various
kinds abound. Snakes and other reptiles
are few, but noxious insects are found in
large numbers.
The island is divided into several juris-
dictions, civil, judicial. ecclesiastical, and
military. The civil jurisdiction consists
of two provinces, with two district Govern
ors, entirely independent of each other $;
| the supreme military chief of the whole
island. with the title Of Captain General.
being the civil Governor of one province
only, called San Cristoval de la Havana,
while the other, Santiago dc Cuba, has a
separate Governor, who, in affairs purely
| political or civil, is not in any way subject
to the Captain General. Besides, the
island is divided into three military divis-
ions, whose chiefs take their orders from
the Captain General. At Matanzas, TriHi-
dad de Cuba, Puerto, Principe, and Glen
| fuegos, there are alse officers with the title
of Governor, named by the Captain Cen
eral, whose office is of judicial nature.
extending to disputed points of every sort
| civil criminal, and military. Suberdin-
ate to these are eight lieutenancies.
The Captain General has appellate
Jurisdiction in military matters. In the
cities and towns there are also municipal
bodies, called aymuntdmients perpetous,
or perpetual unions, and ia the rural district
jucocs Pebaneos, or petty judges, who are
named by the local Governors. These ex-
ercise both judicial and ministerial func-
| tions.
The Captain General presides at the
meeting of the Havana Union, consisting OF
twelve members. The chief secular trbu-
nal of Havana is that of the Captain Gen.
cral. who has in military affairs an auditor
of war, and in civil disputes general asses
| ser, who likewise exercise the duties of the
civil magistracy. The tribunal of the or
dinary alcaldes has also cognizance, in the
first instance, of civil and military disputes
The Union has also certain judicial juris-
diction. There is, beside, commercial
tribunal, whose jurisdiction extend only tc
mercantile affairs.
The judges are all paid by fees instead o.
salaries. The judges fees depend on theil
rank, and the number and length of theil
sittings; they are, therefore remarkably