Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-10
IMPRESSIONS oF CURA.
A Savannahian's visit to the Land of
Golden syrup and Fine Havanas.

A Savannabian's visit to the Land of
Golden syrup and Fine Havanas
Mr. II. il. King, Clerk of the United
States Circuit Court, whose retCrn from
visit TO Cuba was announced in the
NEWS yesterday. in the course Of a con-
yersation with a NEWS reporter gave an
interesting account Of his trip to the
home of golden syrup and fine Havanas.
"The first step a traveller has to take"
he said lis to procure passport, which
is indispensable" Mir. King Obtained
certificate OF application from notary at
Tampa. rom there the vessel in which
be sailed went to Key West, where the
Spanish Consul riSed the certificate.
converting it into a passport. The
vessel arrived at Key West on
sunday, and would have sailed for
Havana the same day, but the Consul.
whose duty il was to put the passengers
passports into shape and clear the vessel,
refused 10 do so on Sunday. After some
time spent in pretestati0ns and fervent
appeals, he finally laid aside his religious
scruples long enough TO prepare the pass
ports and give the vessel the necessary
papers. The passports cost 81 each and
the certificate IS.
Mr.. King describes the harb0r at Ha-
ana as presenting one of the most mag
nitcent views he ever witnessed. As the
vessel enters it Moro Castle, occupying
almost all OF the left shore, towers
grandly above the waters with the
hills as backgrounds; on the
right lays the city, with that calm
and peaceful appearance for which it is
DISTINGUISHED. Vessels are not allowed
TO land at the wharf. spain watches her
fft,a
for that, and they are compelled to anchor
IN the larbcr, where they are boarded by
the customs officials and military authori-
ties, who examine the passports and
cargo. The vessel is never permitted to
land at the wharf, and passengers and
cargo are taken ashore by lighters.
From monetary point OF view, Mr..
King said he found cuba in the "shin-
plaster" stage most Of the small currency
being postal notes, resembling the ''shin-
plastors' so largely circulated in this
country during the war. These notes are
worth about 40 cents on the dollar in
American exchange. "Our paper cur
rencY," he said, commands a premium
90 per cent. In spanish gold. and our sill
yer is al par with Spanish gold, a fact not
generally known M this country"
Although Havana looks we'll from the
harbor, Mr.. King found that upon landing
Tie dclusiou was, 20 great extent, dis
PEELED. The city. he said. has two or
three good hotels. the one best suited 10 an
American taste being the Gr1Hds Hytet
NJ FdSJie, which in straight English
means the Arcade Hotel So called be-
cause ~ lis beautiful arcsdes. The streets
are from rs % 20 feet an width. wth side
walks about TWO feet wide. Almost every
body rides, and me people appear 10
nave little use for sidewalks at all. The
carriages are "one-horse shays." with
room for two persons. Tney can be hired
for 40 cents an hour in "shinplaster'' cur
rency. The horses are small symmetri-
cal animals, and show considerable power
oi endurance. At Havana. added Mr.
King, everybody appears % live out Of
doors. The windows are thrown wide
open, exposing the interior Of the houses,
and there appears 70 be general desire
% get as much air AS possible. Still the
city looks like one vast prison the win
dows having iron bars In front OF them,
aud most OF them no glass.
IN visiting the country around Havana
he went by rail 90 MatanZas. eighty-six
miles distant. The soil around Havana
rs good, and he regards the natural advan-
tages OF that part OF the island AL
most incAculable, but everywhere he
went the country aud people bad
the appearance OF beng burdeued TO
death 10y taxation and crushed " OPP
preston auG tyranny. o. every hand. ia
CITY and count-v, he s~w pOvert5 and
squalor. Scarc,.y any line farla houtss
ur residences were 90 be seen, the houses
generally being miserable nuts. Owners
of The best plantations live tn Havana or
in New ofk ANA other American cities,
aud he found a large maj, rity the
popletion 81 ios8r4,cd AID 00ie't con-