Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-10-19
VOL. XXXVIII.

raked by negroes, who walk up and down
in their bare feet in the very midst of the
boarded sweetness. The proprietor trie(
to engage my attention at this point. bu
| succeeded in finding out or solving !
childish wonder. l think prefer crys
tallized refined 0hite sugar for coffee al
well as tea hereafter.
Three hundred slaves are employed here
and areikept at work only from sunrise to
sunset, with an interval of repose at noon
of two hours. During the busiest season
this rule is not regarded, but the slaves dc
not seem to dread it, as they are granted
more privileges at this period, and are
better fed with more variety of meats anc
spices, and are granted many indulgences
The sugar plantations are the mos
protita bic of all investments in the tropics
The income of some is set down a, higf
as two hundred thousand dollars per an
mum. A few still employ OK power fol
grinding the cane, but American steam
engines have almost entirely taken their
place. and are monthly exported for thi,
purpose from New York, Philadelphia
and Boston. This creates demand fol
engineers and machinists, for whom tn,
Cubans are also dependent upon this coun
try. There are numbers Of Bo, o,tonian'
thus engaged, at a handsome remunera
ton, upon the island.
A Spaniard or Creole generally has moi
the slightest idea of learning how to rul
an engine, and as it is not safe to trust i
even to faithful slave, they are obligeC
to send abroad for foreign skill, and ar:
willing to pay for it roundly.
Cock fgh ing is "A favorite pastime or
he sugar making at the Aldama es at,
we were invited to witness Il combr be,
tween the spIrred birds 1t WAS amusing
perhaps, AT first, to watch the ruillr,
feathers and the cutti1g ~trOHes each III tde
for the other without much eff ct. to tel
The truth, but rs there is nothing refining
In the past.me rangers soon tire Of being
merely lockers on.
AT this point we were conducted through
broad, shady avenues TO the house, where
the cane-seated rocking chairs collected on
the piazza invited us to rest from the
noontide heat. Refreshments we're offered
consisting of wines, cordials, ales, cakes
and sugar cane. We We're Introduced to &
charming Senorita who led US through the
inner portals, where we saw the Sonora
surrounded by her children and house
servants. The interior was furnished with
comfort and luxury, and did not differ
much from our own pleasant homes.
Large urns filled with flowers greeted
US with their perfumes, and as such press
ing invitations in their mingled breaths
could not be resisted, we went forth into
the gardens and plucked the beauties
resting in vine covered arbors till we
became 50 charmed with the place that we
regretted leaving.
1t devolved upon me toadeliver the
thanks of the party to. our host, through
our Interpreter, and he replied with that
gentle courtesy always so charming to meet
with. A voahte WIS in Whiting for the
ladies to convey them to the depot The
last adeus were waved and our cavaliers
followed in the roomy omnibus.
| afterwards learned that the plantation
belonged to the insurgent Senior Aldama
the chief of the ".Junta - in New York
who died recently there. Our host was a
Spanish administrator holding it in charge
in behalf of the government.
We have seen ai5great deal since 4
o'clock in the morning, and by the time
we reached Matanzas, at 2 in the after.
noon, there was time for short siesta
before good dinner at the Leon d'Oro,
from which we rose much refreshed, and
eager for the fetst of beauty spread and
waiting for us in the Yumiri valley.
The city was named San Carlos Alvazar
de Matanzas. The last word by which it
is known signifies the slaughter of a battle
field. The city was originally laid out by
Senior Manzaneda, under whose govern
ment it was founded. 1t stands next to
Havana in commercial importance. and
=, n,,,nh .hnolthiar tbnn bo
capital. 1t is located in a valley in one
of the most fertile portions of the island
the city extending from the fiat seashort
up to the picturesque and verdant hight:
by which the town is surrounded in the
form of an amphitheatre.
On the nights above the city you loo h
down into the beautiful valley on one side
and the bay on the other. Most delightful
country seats lie scattered all along the
road, and to describe the picture one must
do more thrn dream about it; one mus
lGUe in the midst of it Il day or two; but
coull only dream -behold Wh1t dreamed
fled up between earth and Heaven | was
poised as though on angels wings. ant
looked down into the face OF a smiling
paradise. Tall promontories stand ou
as though to guard the valleys lap, ant
billowing away in The distance their out
lines blended with the hues of Heaven
The royal palms held up their heads tc
the skies. seeing naught but the glorious
sun of their great Creator, while the cloud,
drew their wells to soften his splendors,
and stole with their soft shadows over the
fair face OF nature.
did not awake from the enchantmen
till the sun had set behind the farthes
hill, and then | said: Paradise is no
wholly lost when we can look into such AZ
Eden" The twilight of earth was mag.
netic in its,attraction, SOL descended from
the clouds and got into'my volante. W.
preceded the rest of the party, while thu
spirit of music swayed US at the samt