The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-25
LIT E R A T u z z.
MAMBI LAND.
A Record OF Mr.. O'KeiIy>s Experiences I'm

Record OF Mr.. O'Ke,lyAs Experiences In
Cuba.
Until the HERALD sent correspondent to Cuba
TO ascertain the condition and prospects OF the In
snrIectlon in that country no certain knowledge
OF the struggle seemed to be attainable. Mr.
Okelly, however, succeeded in revealing the
mysteries and dispelling the doubts which over
hung the cuban rebellion. In spite OF o Spanish
captain General and the dangers which menaccd
INN on every hand he penetrated the insurgent
lines and finally reached the camp OF President
Cespedes the rebel chieftain. The Information he
brought back with him was invaluable. because 1t
proved what the world had all along doubted, that
she patriot insurrection In Cuoa was actual
war, ana that the claim OF It's friends that
II could be prolonged TIL Spain was COM
PEELED to yield from sheer exhaustion was tue
The facts which led to this conclusion, together
with the story OF Mr.. O'Kelly's adventures In in.
surgent Cuba, part OF which first appeared in
The HERALD, form the subjects Of fresh book OF
just come from the press Of J. b. Lippin-
colt d Co., Of Philadelphia. The name chosen for
the DOCK Is "Mambi Land very happy title Tor
work which deals with that mystic and shadowy
district generally spoken OF as Cuba Lbre-free
Cuba. The word "mambin is q term OF reproach
conferred by the Spaniards upon the Cubans. 1t is
similar in meaning to the name OF '.begears,n
which Alvas soldiers neaped upon the recalcitrant
subjects Of Philip III. In the Netherlands and the
CuDans, like the Dutch, have adopted the oppro-
brlous epthet, 30 that 1t has become one OF the
most erective weapons against Spain. The mambi
win vet make the Mambi-land entirely their own,
and this gives peculiar interest to Mr.. O'Kely's
book as the first permanent contribution to
the literature and history OF the young Republic.
We need not follow Mr. O'Keny in his adven-
lures IN Mambi-Land from the time he left Havana.
lat his own risk" to seek the headquarters OF
President Cespedes until he returned to the Cuban
capitol prisoner carefully guarded by the frousy
soldtery Of Spain. Much OF this has already ap-
peared in these columns But these handsomely
printed pages will wei repay perusal Cuba is the
gem Of the Antilles, made so by African and Chinese
slavery, and those excellent customers OF Spain
the people OF the United States. Without slavery
and without the trade with the Americans, In
which there is no reciprocity, Spanish dominion
IN the west Indies would long ago have died out.
The war which Spain is now wagng in Cuba Is o
war to preserve slavery and the industries which
depend upon slave labor. When this war Is
over the Yankee viii have his opportunity
Tor trying new experiments In raising
sugar and tobacco with free labor, and
Spain, whose greedy oflcials have systematically
robbed both the American merchant and the
cuban planter for years, is determined II possible
to prevent so happy q contamination. It Is part
Of this expiring struggle which Mr.. O'Kelly's book
reveals and illustrates. 1t Is In this view that the
slaves and the coolies, wretched beings, ignorant
and degraded to the last degree, without spark
OF that manly independence which is so marked
feature OF the working classes in free Countries
become such an essential part Of the Cuban insur-
rection whether they have guns in their hands or
still writhe under the whips Of their masters 1t Is
true Mr.. O'Keily does not attempt philosophical
treatise on this subject but his graphic references
I" these wretches as he saw them In the towns
and cities, at the railway stations and on the cars
while travelling, in the canefelds and the slaves
quarters on the plantations and with the armies
OF the dons and OF the patriots, shed nearly as
much light upon the subject as II he had carefully
elaborated 1t. The same thing Is true OF the in.
sight he gives into the condition OF the insurrec-
tion Never dull or heavy his book Is at all times
suggestive and Instructive. The facts he has
brought together are not the mere ephemera OF
the hour but matters OF thought as well as enter
tainmenL Every page OF the book Ia full OF Inter-
est, and though it Is q history OF personal expe-
rience and adventure It is Tar from being per.
sona history. II Is y book written to tell what
was worth preserving, and 1t contains nothing
that was not worth telling. more entertaining
bit OF travel has not been published this season,
and the readers OF ''Mambi Landn will rise from
its perusal with a feeling of great satisfaction.