Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-02-26
Foreign correspondence.
HAVANA, Jan. 1st, 1862.

eight feet deep, cut directly into the rock
which here forms the sea lne-with
steps of rock, and each box having
couple of port holes through which the
waves of this tideless shore wash in and
ont. This arrangement is necessary, rs
sharks are SO abundant that bathing in
the open sea is dangerous. The pure
rock, and the flow and refiow, make
these bathing boxes very agreeable, and
the water, which is that of the Gulf
Stream, is of the temperature of ~ 0.
The baths are rooted over and partially
screened on the inside, but open to view
on the side towards the sea. They arc
made at the public expense, and arc free.
Some arc markell for women, some for
men, and others for lagenta de color"
After bath we take coffee, without
milk, and eat oranges.
l visit the Cathedral in the evening,
lit up by its large candles, having
sumptuous appearance. There is floor
of yariegated marble, DISTRACTED by no
seats or screens, tall pillars and frescoed
walls. and delicate masonry of varied
co!ored stone, the prevailing tint being
yellow, and n high altar of porphyry.
There is look of tie great days of old
Spain about it, and you think that
Knights and MOBILES worshipped here, and
enriched it from their spoils and con-
quests. Every new eye turns first to the
place within the choir, under that alto
relievio, behind that short inscription,
where, in the wall Of the chancel, rest
the remains Of Christopher Columbus.
Borne from Valadolid to Seville, from
Seville TO San Domingo, and from San
Domingo to Havana, they rest here by
the altar side, iii the emporium Of the
Spanish Island. "What is man that
thou art mindful Of him." truly and hum
bly, says the Psalmist; but what is man,
inded, if his fellow men are not mindful
Of such q man rs this? The discoverer
Of hemisphere.
I walk down under tho trees towards
the Preside, on my way home. What
is this clanking soundi Can it be cav
airy marching on foot, their sabres rat
ting on the payernont3 No, it comes
from that crowd Of poOr-looking crea-
lures that are forming in files in front of
the Preside. 1t is the chain-gang.
Poor wretchesi Each man has an iron
band rivited around bis ankles, another
around his waist, and the main is fasten-
sd one end into each of these bands and
bangles between them, clanking with
every step. This leaves the wearors
free to use their arms, and, indeed, their
whole body, it being only weight and
badge of discovery, from which they
can not rid themselves. 1t is kept on
them day and night. Working, eating,
or sleeping, so many are chained to-
gother. They pass their nights in the
Presidio-the great prison and garrison
and are marshaled for their daily toll
in the public streets aud on the public
works, in the heat of the sun. They
look thoroughly wretched. Can any of
these be political offcndersi 1t is said
that Carlist, from Old Spain, worked in
this gang. Sentence to the chain gang
in summer, in the case of foreigner,
must be nearly certain death.
l have been here one week, and am
tired of my boarding place. We de-
termine to go down to Matanzas, and
taking the cars at six in the morning
arrive there at half-past eight. in time to
change our dress for breakfast. The
usual hour for breakfast all over the is
land is halfpast nine. We stop at the
Hewett House, kept by an American
gentleman. l can recommend it as being
the best house on the island. Every
thing carried on after the American
plan, as far as can be in this country. | |
have n room with board floor; my
window opens so that I have fine view
of the country. This city was built Ia
ter, and moro under a foreign direction,
than Havana. I have been told, that,
For many years, the controlling influences
of society were French, English, and
American; but, within few years, the
policy of the government has been to
discourage foreign influence, and now
Spanish customs prevail. Bull fights and
cock fights have been introduced, and
other usages and entertainments which
had no place here before. 1t has about
10000 inhabitants, aud stands where
two small rivers-the Yumuri aud the
San Juan, crossed by handsome stone