The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-03-27
NOTES OF A TRIP TO CUBA.


into large city of ten thousand inhabitants 1t
has fine bay, but is situated on low, fiat ground
which makes it hot and remarkably productive of
mosquitoes. So far as wide streets are concerned
wide pavements and fine, handsome stores it is the
first city in Cuba, in our experience. The Plaza
| is Gne one, the market the best we have seen,
and the Cathedral in front of it quite imposing
The people have the reputation of more enterprise
| than in any other city on the island. ~
Matanzas is fine city of 26,000 inhabitants
and its magnificent bay gives it many advantages
to the numerous vessels always there. The old
and new towns separated by the river Yumuir
spanned by solid and massive bridges, and its
banks are protected by masonry, giving it the ap-
pearance of wide canal. On a smaller scale,
Matanzas somewhat resembles Naples, in its loca-
tion on the bay. Matanzas being mainly settled
by citizens from the United States, our language
is more common there than in any other Cuban
city, and the customs of the place are Ameri-
canized Many of the oldest residents are from the
States. Fine equipages in New York style, with
servants in livery with top boots, and fast troters
in single and double buggies, sport about in the
evening. In the afternoon, when the troops
drilling, on the parade ground near the barracks,
numbers of them, with three girls each, are flying
around, enjoying the crowd and the music Ma
tanzas is quite handsome city, though, frcm its
division by the river, it presents somewhat dis
jointed appearance. The houses are many of three
and even four stories, which are in contrast with
those in the other cities of the island. We find
many visitors attracted by the beautiful scenery of
the Yumuri and the fine sea air. The latter is
very agreeable when MOTHERS are not present, but
they frequent and make it npleasant to persons
with pulmonary dsord ers. The temperature is Of
ten ten degrees below that of Trinidad and $40 to
$50 are not uncommon. The climate of Trinidad
free from northers and so equable, is far prefer
able. The process of sugar making seems here to
be very simple, and the machinery OF at all COM
plicated. The hands in the field, with long
knife, cut the close to the ground top it, and
throw it from them, to be taken up by others, who
strip off the blades, and throw it into the OK cart
close by; when eight or ten carts loaded, they
go to the sugar-house where the ne is emptied
and piled around the press or crushing machine.
This is fed by wide trough, and as the cane pas
through the press of three heavy cylinders, it
is cIushed and deprived Of its juice, and falls into
a cart below, to be hauled away and dried for fuel.
1t is then called Jdgasse and is dried in piles by
the women, and covered with blades or housed
being the only fuel used for the furnace 1t
quires to be most carefully watched, as it is like
tDder, and fire is fatal to the hopes of the planter
The lower blades Of the in the field being
dry, ignite readily, and often the whole crop is
swept by the work of an incendary. Last year
there were extensive fires, destroying many crops
The cane juice passes into reception pans heat
ed by steam-now called guarappa-and then into
other pans, called defectors where lime is added
to neutraze acidity. 1t then goes into a success
ion of boiling pans, and is skimmed-the scum
passing into tanks from which it is carried to the
manure pile. The juice in the last pan, when of
the proper proof. goes into large watts, and after
standing twenty four hours cools into Muscovado
sugar, and is put into hogsheads. The hogsheads
carried into the draining or purging house, and
having holes in the lower end, are placed on
floor of rack work. for the moasses to run into
long trouehs in lower story, terminating in tanks,
from which it is put into hogsheads There are
various estates the island, which clayed and
refined sugars are made, and in preparing the lat
ter, the machinery is very complicated The large
oxen hauling immense wagons of cane heavily
loaded attract the attention, not only by the man.
ner of being yoked by the horns, but by their ad
mirable training They are divided into two Sec
tions, one of which works week, while the other
rests, alternating with regularity. They offne
size and fat, and are the best specimens we have
seen of the improved breed of the country. This
estate is the only one where improved agriculture
from older countries and book knowledge are ad- |
opted, but in all departments see progress in
dicated
The negroes are well looking and we'll cared for,
which is not the many estates visited. |
large number of little ones is the evidence of
good treatment, and general healthness seems
characteristic of them. Our party was amused in
seeing crowd of children collect at the piazza,
dropping upon their knees with the regularity of
drill by the old nurses. to receive the benedic-
ton of cold massa," who, in addition to the |
"Adios," usually gave each biscuit, to their
great satisfaction.
A Militia Company DisJanded for Fidelity to
tie Union.-An extraordinary affair bas just oc-
Cured in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which shows the |
progress of the rrepressible conflict in that region
of the Northwest 1t appears that Captain Bar
ry, of the Union Guard which is represented as
of the finest companies in the Wisconsin, State
militia. expressed opinion in private conversa-
tion, that in case of conflict between the United |
States authorities and those of the State in the
Booth case, he would order out his company in !
obedience to the former, considering, as he did, |
the claims of country paramount to those of State
Upon being catechized by the Adjutant General,
Captain Barry admitted that he conceived such |
orders coming from the Governor would be illegal, |
and should not be obeyed, inasmuch as it would !
mean simply to commit the crime of treason, to |
which he and his men would be subject to, and |
would deserve the penalty of death Upon this
admission of fidelity to the United States anthori- |
ties, the Black Republican Governor of Wisconsin |
at once disbanded and disarrned the Union Guard, |
portion of the regular militia of the State.
Tn W. hat