, 1888-01-22

children lying in all sorts of pastures on
landings, along galleries and at the doors
of little alcoabs. Some of them opened
their handsome eyes a bit, but hone moved
or seemed in the least disconnected by the
intrusion.
The Havana c~onslgneeS of cargoes pro
vide vessels with these lanches and their
lanchero crews, and ship captains must
p~erforce be suited with such service.
The charter party or contract given
each vessels captain by the c~onsignor
provides for only limited LAY days. in
port. If this consignee shall not have
taken the cargo from the vessel within the
stated number OF days, the vessel is en-
titled by a clause in the charter party
to demurage in the nature of a penalty in
gold of from $25 to $50 per day for such
delay. Therefore, alongside of each of
the hundreds of vessels in port are con-
stantly seen these gaudily bedecked light
ers and their light hearted crews, reeeiv-
ing or delivering, the vessels own crew
usually being employed as the stevedores
of the cargos, handling it from the hold
to the decks of the lighters. But all this
labor is done in the shortest possible man
mer, interspersed with an u~naccountable
righteousness on the part OF these thou
sands Of happy go-lucky and pretentious-
ly energetic llghtermen.
From one end of the splendid bay to the
other, from day until dark, the tcreaking
of pulleys, the o~ficious commands of
mates, the weird ''shantying' or singing
of crews at the 'wenches' in hosting
goods; the excited and supercilious tally.
ing of the Spanish custom house officer in
charge of every vessel; the universal
barking of dogs with which every lighter
is provided; the garrulous chattering and
yelling of the Cuban workmen of all
classes; the snorting and putting of the
fussy tugs az they bring to anchor a newly
arrived vessel, or take out to sea one
ready for another struggle with the
storms, with the greetings and hallooings
of departure; the gaily painted and be-
Tagged government boats plying in every
direction on their service of never-ending
taxation upon commerce; the ferries
speeding from shore to shore with their
crowds of motley people-for Cuba houses
all nationalities-the 5000 guadanos or
little hooded harbor boats for all purposes
OF dlckering or passenger service; the
countless bum-boats peddling fruit and
vile cigars among the ships crews; the
continue. interchange of military and social
courtesies between the forts and men-of-
war, with its accompanying pageantry
anu oulNOS VI dllllIcIyi anu III udy as well
as at night, the ever Ginning bells of
church, convent and monastery, mingled
with strains from unseen fandangoes and
revelries on shore-form a commingling of
sight and sound pleasant in color and
variety, and often fascinating in bewilder-
ing confusion.
As is well known, the chief exports of
Cuba, in fact the sources of her wonder
full wealth, are sugar and molasses. The
average crop reaches nearly 700, 900 tons
Of sugar and 100. 900 hogsheads of mo-
lasses. The United States receives FIVE
slxths of this enormous product, and it is
almost worth a trip TO Cuba to see vessels
load with molasses for foreign ports. 1t
is brought to Havana from all parts of the
island by rail and team to little seacoast
coves, and thence by the rakish coasters |
have already mentioned. 1t is ware
housed in Santa Catalina and in Regla in
immense butts, many holding from 500 to
l 900 hogsheads each.
From these butts it is conveyed in cloth
hose to empty hogsheads in the lighters,
a lighter load usually consisting of from
lighters the hogsheads are brought to the
vessels side, elevated from the lighter to
a large stationary trough built on the
vessels deck directly above the hatchway
to the hold, lowered until it rests upon
this huge trough, the cane husk bung
removed, and a constant stream of mo-
lasses kept pouring into the receptacle,
which will hold 500 gallons of the nause-
Gus, sticky fluid. From this trough a
large canvas hose conducts the molasses
to any portion of the vessels hold, where
empty hogsheads are laid in tiers, bung
upward. Three or four men are required
in the filling and packing process below.
They are practically naked, and there was
never a more revolving and loathsome den
in which human beings are kept at labor.
The men of the fo'castle do this work,
and it rather takes the poetry out of
sailors yarns of rare hours in foreign
ports to see them at it. On the vessels
deck are a crew of coopers, consisting
usually Of a Spaniard, a creole and a
negro. The coopers trim" or repair the
empty hogsheads, as they are from time
to time needed in the hold below. They
are fed at the vessels expense at the
cabin table; will only work from 9 to 5;
insist on five meals a day; and bring with
them gallons of cheap Catalan wine, of
which they partake sparingly every few
minutes, from botellas, quaint Spanish
vessels having long delicate crystal shouts;
from which as they are held aloft the
wine is shot into their threats, their lips
never touching the n~ozzles, and the entire
draught being taken without the lips
once closing. From eighty to 100 hogs
heads of molasses will be thus stored
daily; and from cook to captain every
thing on board these sailing craft is
smeared and permeated with the vile and
valuable fluid.
Harbor scenes and sounds by day and
night have in all countries a rare f%ascina-
ton. But | doubt if there can be found
another harbor like this where diversity
and charm so combine to interest and
hold. From dawn to dark Havana bay is
alive with movement, sound and color.
The arrival and departure of vessels are
constant. The picturesque lanches with
their lazy crews are everywhere. Thou
sands Of guadaneros with hooded boats
speed hither and thither with passengers,
or dart like birds OF prey upon possible
plumber. Hundreds of guardanero hawk
sters ply from vessel to vessel singing
their wares in a ridiculous, almost pa
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