Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-02-02
LETTER FROM CUBA.
A Soldier Boy From Southwest Virginia
Writes Of What He Has Seen
and is Doing.
From the Pcarisburg VirginiNn.
Manzanilo de Cuba Province,
Santiago de Cuba, Dec. &c, 1898.

1t has been some time since l wrote II
] your paper for its readers to see what We
are doing, but time has been very pre-
cious with us since we arrived in this new
territory of the U. 5. l have hardly had
time to write to friends and home folks
We sailed from Fernandina, Fla, on
the 10Th Of October, and after five days on
board the Romanian, dropped anchor in
Manzanillo harbor. The water being too
shallow for us to reach the dock we were
compelled to land with lighters, which
took some time. We went straight to the
Spanish barracks, which were in very good
condition, but we have made and are still
making numerous improvements on them.
The barracks are situated on hill i'm
mediately in rear of city. fronting the bay,
and ten minutes walk brings us to the bay
where we can indulge in the luxury of
salt water bath. Our voyage was very
tiresome, owing to the scarcity of room,
otherwise we would have had a pleasant
trip as the sea was perfectly calm, after we
crossed the Gulf Stream, which is always
rough.
The manners and customs of the people
are very interesting. The natives are
small, very dark, with large black eyes,
set well into their heads, black hair and
round faces. The majority of the girls are
very beautiful when in full dress and faces
powdered. This powder they use very
extravagantly. The lower classes do not
think thai clothing adds anything to their
beauty, consequently nature is unadorned
until they are we'll up in years, ana as 1t
requires more or less exertion to cress and
undress daily, this they are absolutely op-
posed to. Their clothing, which fits them
loosely, is made of very thin material, is
manufactured in Spain. The same mate
rial is worn by both sexes. The Cubans do
their work early and late in the day, and
during the hot hours they seek the shade,
which they are specially fond of, for they
are very lazy, and the extent of their am
billion is to own pony, machete and
dog. The Spanish laws we're very severe
on the people, especially when fellow
wanted to marry, he had to pay 500
for his license, consequently there was
very little marrying. The people have
very little or no education. They speak
the Spanish language, but very imperfect
", so am told by the Spaniards here who
are the best people. As to the houses,
they are made of rocks and cement and
covered with palm leaves or branches and
have one room to the house, with only a dirt
floor, no furniture or bed, maybe few
boxes which may contain food or clothes.
They eat very little, only one meal day,
and that is dinner, which is served at
D. m. They live mostly on fruit which is
to be had the year round. The one thing
about the houses which strikes us with
wonder is the very large number OF people
who live in one Of them. do not believe
I exaggerate when l say that as many as
one hundred people live in one house
The Spaniards are much better class OF
people in every way. Their houses are
made of cement and sea shells, walls very
thick, covered with tiles or terra Gotta, and
the floors are made of the same material
and resemble marble The Spaniards
own most of the land and cultivate it to
Door extent. Sugar cane and tobacco are
their chief crops.
As to the city, it is beautiful site for
town, and if the Americans have 1t long 1t
will be beautiful. The houses, as have
described, are very close together, with no
openings except the doors and windows
The doors are double, about three inches
thick, the windows extend from the floor
to the roof and are protected by upright
iron bars about four inches apart and no
glass, but have heavy board shutters open
ing inward. The streets are very narrow
and the sidewalks are just wide enough
for one person. In the center Of the town
is plaza, or public square, which is per-
fectlv grand. 1t has two walks, running
east and west and north and south, form
ING a cross. Just at this cross is beautiful
fountain pouring forth streams OF water,
and between these walks are all kinds OF
tropical flowers, including the fig and CO.
coanut. Every night the people congre'
gate at this fountain and parade around
it, while their band plays for them.
There is dance somewhere in the town
every night. The dance begins about l
y. m. and lasts until about 3. m. The
band is composed of two instruments, a
hand organ and kettle drum. The
above cross is an emblem uf their religion,
as the natives are all catholics.
The southern coast of Cuba is noun
famous, beginning at the winward passage
and following the coast, but at this point
they drop off, leaving a scope Of level
land fifteen or twenty miles wide that
seems to be very fertile and productive.
The timber on this scope consists of palm,
cocoanut, lemon, orange and fig trees. In
the mountains you find rosewood and ma
hogany. There is considerable game in the
mountains, consisting of deer, wild
guineas, pheasants, quail and wild pigeons
Around the swamps and along the rivers
we find tine. crocodiles in great quantities,
and birds of brilliant plumage, parrots,
mocking birds and nightingales in great
numbers.
will now return to our regiment, which
/ is improved very much in health in the
last month. We sleep in hammocks.
f There is one pole running the full length
. of +ba boueo which ic q ho,It 000 faet1onC