Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1898-04-29
HAVANA HARBOR.
An Interesting Sketch Of this
Famous Cuban City.

49, AZ IA| "O11NtJ DGAuS uCCp
neough for vessels Of the largest
class, sufficiently capacious to
receive thousand ships of war,
and 50 safe that vessels ride se>
CureIY without cable or anchor.
The entrance is by a channel
half a mile long, SO narrow that
only single vessel can enter at
once, and fortified through the
whole distance with platforms,
works and artillery. The mouth
of this channel is secured by two
strong castles. That OH the
eastern side, called Moro Castle,
IS built IN the lorin of a triangle,
fortified with bastions and noun
ted with heavy pieces, almost
level with the water. On the
opposite side of the channel is
another strong fort, called the
Punta Castle, connected with the
castle town On the north. The
city is situated on the western
side Of the harbor and is sur
rounded by ramparts, bastions
and bitches.
You enter under the Moro
Castle, situated on a higL rock,
on the south end of which is a
lighthouse, containing rejecting
lamps, which make a brilliant
appearance, showing q revol-
wing light, which may be seen
25 miles, past which til cham
mel is SO narrow that yoG may
nearly touch the side With a
boat hook; the top Of The light
overtops the masts Of the stout
est ships.
After entering through this
pass, YOU arrive at a seccG1, only
one hundred yards wide, on one
side Of which is the nunta Fort,
and on the other Castle Blanca,
a prodigious strong fort, directly
opposite the city. Having passed
these works, you enter a harbor
almost unr1valed. IN passing
the first castle (Morto), you must
not come to anchor, as a reef
lies off the starboard as you ems
ter, which is dangerous.
1t IS stated that the entrance
to the harbor is rapidly filling
up,
The harbor of Havana may
be distinguished at a distance
by the passes of Manangua,
which lies on the meridian of
the entrance, while the land,
both to the eastward and vest
ward, is low and equal, with the
exception only of the MORO, or
little hill, surmounted by the
Notifications and lighthouse.
At six leagues to the casts
ward the Hills of Jaruca, or
Iron Hills, may be seen. These
are of moderate height and de-
tached. The tables Of Marlel
are about six leagues to the
westward, and, III advancing,
not only thcse, but the Hills OF
Cavanas may at times be seen.
The form Of the harbor can
be best understood by reference
to the particular plan of it,
from the survey Of Don Jost Del
Rio, by whom the position Of
MORO Castle has been deter
mined.
The entrance in lies nearly
southeast and northwest, and 1t
is therefore, very difficult to
enter when the breeze is not to
the northwest or esst northwest.
The breeze enters it at about
10 a. H., and blows till sunset,
and, therefore, it is only between
these hours that you can sail IN
when the breeze is from east
no. tlcast to southeast, which is
often in the rainy season, and
sometimes even in the dry sea-
son. Under such circumstances
the only resource is to anchor
in the MORO Shoal or Bank,
and entering by towing when
the breeze takes off, Which is at
night. As, on entering, these
difficulties are to be encountered
so, on going out, you Will not
be quite free, for when the
breeze comes to the northeast,
which it often does IN the dry