Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-07-28
Plantation Life in Cuba.

| Plantation Life in Cuba.
Although in Havana all the excess
es of modern fashionable life are in
dulged to great extent, ,one has only
to travel twenty or thirty miles into
the interior to find the most primi-
tive and simple domestic customs.
The chief industry Of the western
end of the island is the cultivation
of sugar-canc; and clumps of low
plantation houses, from which rise
the tall chimneys of the grinding
mills, may be seen at intervals of
two or three miles all over the coun-
try.
1t was our good fortune at one
time to spend week at one Of
these retired plantations, and we
look back to that visit rs to dream
Of some golden age in land flow
ing with milk and honey. We were
expected guests, and on leaving the
train we found volante in waiting
to convey us three miles into the
country to the plantation buildings.
The road over which we were
obliged to pass was Of the very
worst description. Indeed, it was
no road at all, but winding track
between rough hedges of cactus and
yucca, with dry, stubbly cane fields
on either side. There had been a
recent heavy fall OF rain, and except
where the limestone rock formed a
solid bottom, the wheels Of the vo-
lante sank up to the hubs in red
Cuban mud, and the horses, floun-
dering and stumbling in their efforts
to drag the carriage through the
mire, covered themselves and the
cuijselo from head to foot with the
sticky substance.
Half a mile from the plantation
buildings was u large gateway,
gaily painted in red and blue, which
an old negro, too feeble for field
work, opened for us to pass through
On approaching the buildings the
administrator, who in this case was
half owner of the estate, stepped
forward TO meet us, followed by a
mute procession of about dozen
immense blood hounds, the faithful
and savage guardians of every Gu
ban plantation. He was large
sized, well-preserved man, Of about
sixty years, with pleasant counte
nance, and long white hair and
beard. His family, both young and
old, stood around him on the broad
piazza, waiting to greet the strang
ers with hearty good will. We were
introduced in turn to each one, and
then the dogs were called up to be
made acquainted with the new
corners. Eying us with much sus-
picion at first, they gradually as
sumed less savage aspect as their
masters brought them up to us, pat
ting them atlectionatcly on the head;
and after shifting at our hands and
feet, walked slowly away, our friends
forever. We were warned, how
ever, against running across the
yard any where in their siolt, as
in Cuba no one, except a runaway
negro, whom they are trained to
chase, ever goes faster than a walk
The plantation residence was a
large, one-story building, with q
broad piazza running round two
sides, into which opened all the
rooms, the doors serving at once to
admit both light and air, there be-
ing no windows; it was consequent
ly necessary to keep the doors al
ways open, and as the floors were
on a level with the piazza, there
was free range for all the dogs,
pigs, chickens, geese and guinea
hens through the entilc c house.
Our room was the favorite resort
of an immense blue pig, who start
led us from a delicious afternoon
nap by snufling and fumbling round
under the bed. We turned him
ont, but it was no use; he would
come back; and although this was
an extent of Cuban hospitality we
could not approve, we at last gave
up in despair, and allowed the pig
| free use of our room. 1t was Il lit
tie unpleasant, too, to go to bed with
large blood hound lying on the
floor; but we were assured that it
was much safer to sleep with Il
blood hound, than without a blood
hound, sc we quietly acquiesced in
the custom Of the country. The
master had his own particular IA
vorite among the dogs, huge
black white animal who reioiccd
in the name Of Buenu Wozo (good
girD. She never left his side for a
moment. At meal-time she stood
at his elbow, sharing all the dainty
morscls, and at night slept on mat
by his bed.
The plantation pets were subjects
of much care and enjoyment to the
master. There was turtle pen
with Y pond of water in the center,
where he went every morning with
Il basket of bread and meat to feed
the creatures, which came scram-
bling up the bank at the sound OF
his voice, tumbling over and over
in their hurried efforts for the first
bite.
"Take care Of your fingers" he
said, as we leaned over the fence to
reach bit of meat to a struggling
reptile. "They have sharp teeth
those fellows, and they like to use
them" After the turtles, the rab-
bits and the pigeons received equal
care; and then the old man came to
take his seat at the corner of the
piazza, where he could look all
ways and see that nothing went