The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-03-13
tn VOLUME---NUMBER 4o4.
Correspondence of the South Carolinian.
NOTES ON A TRIP TO CUBA.
TRINIDAD DE CUBA, Feb. %. 1860.

TRINIDAD DE CUBA, Feb 20, 1860
In our last letter from Havana, we mentioned
seeing large number of negroes, dressed in fancy
coats, cooked hats, &C., for funeral We have
since found that they were hired mourners, fur
nished by the undertaken, who has on hand con-
stantly large stock of such livery, to supply any
amount of demand In proportion to the wealth,
dignity and standing of citizens, is the number Of
such attendants the expenses of burial being
enormous. Here in Trinidad an old gentleman, in
moderate circumstances, recently lost his wife
the expenses of the funeral were 500. We saw
burial ofan old lady, who had owned asugar estate,
and was connected with some of the best families,
but now poor: she was taken to the cemetery
by four negroes, and from the coffin was thrown in
to the grave three feet deep, and the earth piled
upon her. No service was held, and no persons
attended, because she was poor! Such is life.
We desire also to state, what we omitted in our
last that the procession of ''the Host there men
toned as being composed of negroes, was to admin
lister the "Oteo" to coored person when to white
person, the procession is of the whites
In business matters, there seems to be no differ
ence between Sundays and other days-the stores
are all open, and things hawked about the streets
as during the week Sunday is the great day for
Observation-Disclosures and cock-fghts and balls
being given on that day. Passing by the Theatre,
last evening, returning from walk, an immense
SIo"u dH dc " VIC SduoO va III WH0h
we found that there was a "dignity baW' Of color
ed folks going on. man standing at the door
had just communicated the information that the
house was full, and more could be admitted.
At these balls the colored ladies vie with their
betters, though not Recognizing them as such, and
dress in the extreme of fashion The colored gents
have equal pretensions, and their style of dress is
a prominent feature in the picture.
1t appears that the Government, which is alive
fO fava ord 70 fho lIoul
lud pussons" to have two balls and a grand mas
querade, the profits to be applied to the funds of
the war against the Moors. One dollar is the en-
trance fee, and as there is supper provided-only
the cost of the Theatre and music-the balance,
from such an immense crowd, must be something
considerable. The acting Governor and suit at
tended, and remained until a, M, promenading
and enjoying the scene, while the dark ladies dan
ced. We met, to-day, friend who was present,
and he reports that the affair well conducted,
with proper behavior on all sides.
The CooLIEs.-In l847, the Spanish Govern
ment issued order allowing the importation of
1000 Chinese Coolies to- supply labor in this island
as an experiment; subsequently they allowed 2, 900
more and then removed any restriction as to num-
Der. The demand for labor is great, ana the in
crease of negroes on the plantations amounts to
nothing in consequence of the great disproportion
OF the sexes, the women on many plantations, not
The introduction of coolies has opepated very in
juriousy in relation to this ncresase, as none but
males have been brought, and where they are en-
ployed on the plantations, their having money is
great source of corruption. The coolies are sold
oy their importers at $3.50 to S400, and the pnr-
chaser buys them for eight years, paying to each
in addition 81 per month. They are used for all
purposes. They sprightly, active and SEEM
lngy industrious people, very much in their in
teligence and motions like our mulattoes They
make good mechanics, and are used as fremen on
brakesmen cars, drivers of OK
carts, water carriers, servants on board of the
steamers, in Havana walters, and also, as gener-
u laborers. AS soon as they out of their time
hey have the privileges of the whites, and you
meet them riding in onnibuses, &c. They are do
,ile, but many of them be- discontented; and
f so, or if whipped, they often commit suicide,
having regard for life.
The Spanish Government, while conniving at
he slave trade, offers premium for emancipation
~ its laws. Every negro owned is registered, and
price affixed for taxes; at this price, if the negro
S dissatisfied, he require his master to sell
lin, if he find any willing to buy him. or if
he can save $50 to pay down, he can buy his free
lom by instalments, which the owner is obliged to
eceive. A mother can, by paying $50. buy an
Unborn child at any time and the master is oblig-
ID to submit to it. Such cases occur in the towns
md Cities but on the plantations the negroes are
gnorant and without communicating with those
Who have knowledge of the laws, they know Of
zone of them.
How IT WoRKs.-The English lawyers attribute
he frequent eopement Of wives who have fortunes
ettled upon them to the law which allows the
wife provision separate from her husband A
lawyer writes to the London Times
hat, in the course of legal experience Of nearly
orty- years, he has seen very large number Of
ases of privately arranged separation between
husband and wife, In every case but one, the
gife had provision independent of her husband,
nd in almost every case the wife was the chief
EroDg-doer The ladies would probably dispute
he facts upon which this witness testimony rests.
he policy of the law is however subject Of
considerable discussion, and unless rich women
top running off with their footmen, it is likely
hat it will be changed.
SMALL-Pox-Ls this a Fact "A gentleman of
Intelligence and observation informs us, from all
he information he can obtain from medical men,
ow having many cases of small pox under treatment,
hat there is no house in the city where gas is
urned, of the ordinary consumption, In which the
isease has yet found Judgement The gas, it is
opposed, is powerful disinfectant, and hence
here is no contagion within the circle of its
nfuence He says that person burning gas..may
ontract the disease abroad and take it home with
i'm. but it will not be communicated to any
ther member of the family Johns Morning
7e,cs.
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