Cuba Past and Present

by Richard Davey

We learn from another old volume (An Account of the Island of Domingo, 1668) that "there are several old mountains in the midst, which encompass an inaccessible bottom, where from the top of certain rocks may be seen an infinite variety of reptiles of dreadful bulk and length. The natives were wont to tell of a vast monstrous serpent that had its abode in the said bottom. They affirmed that there was in the head of it a very sparkling stone, like a carbuncle, of inestimable price, that the monster commonly veiled that rich jewel with a thin moving skin like that of a man's eyelid, and when it went to drink, and sported itself in the deep bottom it fully discovered it, and the rocks all about received a wonderful lustre from the fire issuing out of that precious gem."

The original entry of the marriage of Lord Nelson in the register of the parish church where it took place was exhibited in the Nevis Court. Very singular also is the sales-list of the Byam estate in Antigua, from which we learn the prices of slaves to have varied from £10 to £150, "warranted sound." Some elderly ladies and gentlemen of colour are occasionally "thrown in gratis." Several copies of the slave Bible were also shown, in which all verses calculated to disturb the idea that slavery is an institution by right Divine are carefully eliminated.

THE END.

INDEX

[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [Y] [Z]

A.
Adderley, Sir Augustus, [257].
Advertisements for the sale of slaves, [271].
Albemarle, Duke of, captures Havana and Matanzas, [60].
" Duke of, Governor of Jamaica, [268].
" Duchess of, [269];
remarkable behaviour of, [270];
believes herself to be Empress of China, [270].
Amedeo, Prince, accepts the Spanish crown and resigns it again, [90].
American Revolution, the, [62].
Americans, influence of the, upon Cuba, [19];
settlements in the island, [26];
help the insurgents, [87].
Amusements in Havana, [129];
during Carnival, [139].
Animals found by Columbus in Cuba, [6];
animals of the forests, [106].
Antomarchi, Dr to Napoleon I., [203];
his death and monument, [203].
Apiculture introduced by French colonists, [61].
Aquelera, Don Francisco, elected President of the Cuban Republic, [93].
Aristocracy, Havanese, [126].
Aristolochia pelicana, the, [149].
Army, the rebel, its number and organization, [101].
Autos da fé, the frequency of, [56];
description of an, [59].
B.
Bahamas first sighted by Christopher Columbus, [38];
New Providence, [224].
Bananas, [4];
used as vegetables, [154].
Banyan tree, the, [148].
Baracoa founded by Diego Velasquez, [49].
Barbadoes, [263];
governorship of Lord Howe, [266].
Bats, enormous size of, [7].
Bayamo, founded by Diego Velasquez, [49];
taken by the Spaniards from the rebels, [85].
Beggars in Havana, the, [137].
Bellamar Caves, the, [158].
Berriz, Colonel, accusations brought against, by Miss Cisneros, [118].
Birds, [8].
Blake, Lady, [231].
Bobadilla, Doña Isabella de, Governess of Cuba, [181].
Bolivar, [67].
Borgian Maps, the, [258].
Botanical Gardens of Havana, the, [127].
British interests in Cuba, [26].
Buccaneers, the, and their romantic history, [51];
their hatred of the Spaniards, [52];
their rugged life, [52];
Henry Morgan, the Welshman, [52];
they burn Havana, [53];
enactments against the, [52];
the adventures of Jacob Sores, [53].
Buchanan, President, threatening message to Spain, [78].
Bull-baiting, [145].
Butter, lack of, in Cuba, [154].
C.
Cactus, the enormous size of the, [126].
Cafés and restaurants, Cuban, [155].
Campos, Marshal Martinez, agrees to the Treaty of Zanjou, [94];
his good intentions, [116].
Canga, the, [141].
Canovas, Señor, de Castillo, signs Treaty of Zanjou, [95].
Cardenas, called the "American City," [26];
its population, [192] (in note).
Carnival, dances given during, [23];
the Havanese Carnival, [139];
its end on Shrove Tuesday, [142].
Caruba tree, the, [190].
Cattle used as horses, [167] (in note).
Cauto River, the, navigable for small craft, [5].
Caves of the Bellamar, the magnificent, [158].
Cays, the, dangerous to vessels, [5];
their beauty, [174].
Cemeteries, Cuban, [202].
Cereals, exported from Spain, [4].
Cerro, the, [125].
Cespedes, Carlos Manuel, begins the rebellion, [83];
his character, [83];
the burning of his plantation, [85];
elected President of the Cuban Republic, [87];
his tragic death, [91].
Chinese, the wretched condition of the, in Cuba, [37];
the Chinese in the ranks of the rebels, [37];
their religious practices, [110].
Churches, the, of Havana, [132];
music in the, [138];
flirtation in church, [138].
Cienfuegos, the town and harbour, [161];
the surrounding country, [162].
Cipango, Columbus thinks Cuba is, [42].
Cisneros, Miss Evangelina, story of, [117].
Cisneros y Bétancourt, Don Salvador, elected President of the Cuban Republic, [93].
Clergy, the, of the rebel army, [109].
Cleveland, President, tries to prevent filibustering expeditions to Cuba, [99].
Climate, [2] (in note);
is tolerable, [10];
[108].
Coaches in Havana, [131].
Cock-fighting in Cuba, [145];
a century ago, [275].
Cocoa, [4];
the plant, [213].
Coffee, was one of the principal products, [3];
replaced by the sugar cane, [69];
a coffee plantation, [213].
Columbus, Christopher, first sights the New World, [38];
lands at Fernandina, [39];
the wonders he encounters, [39];
his followers grow clamorous for gold, [40];
the imaginery Quinsai, [40];
he discovers Cuba, [40];
and takes possession of it in the names of the Spanish sovereigns, [41];
convinced that it is the Cipango described by Marco Polo, [42];
believes Cuba to be a part of the mainland, [43];
said to have landed at British Honduras, [44];
Columbus and the native, [46];
visits the island twice again, [49];
the journeyings of his remains, [133];
his enthusiastic description of New Providence, [225];
his birthplace, [237];
and parents, [238];
the house in which he was born, [240];
his brothers, [241];
first goes to sea, [244];
his education, [244];
the sports he played when a child, [254].
Columbus, Diego, Governor of Hispaniola, [49].
Cook, the Cuban, [124].
Cookery, Cuban, [155].
Coolie labour, [36].
Cuba, Island of, its shape and size, I;
mountains, [2];
position and weather, [2] (in note);
coffee and tobacco once the chief articles of cultivation, [3];
French settlers persuade the Cubans to extend their sugar plantations, [4];
other products, [4]; navigable rivers, [5];
animals and reptiles, [7];
disagreeable insects, [8];
flora, [10];
climate, [10];
filthy drains, [11];
its prehistoric inhabitants, [14];
present population and inhabitants, [16];
laws, [17];
first appearance of the Inquisition on the island, [18];
Las Casas gives an impetus to education, [18];
state of chaos in, during the Napoleonic period, [19];
overrun by Americans, [19];
society in, [23];
first sighted by Columbus, [40];
its numerous names, [41] (in note);
its beauties in the eyes of its Discoverer, [41];
first circumnavigated, [49];
Diego Velasquez sent to, [49];
he founds Havana, Santiago de Cuba, etc., [49];
Hernando Cortez in, [49];
C. during the buccaneering period, [51];
Drake appears off, [54];
prosperity of, at the beginning of the 18th century, [59];
taken by the English under the Duke of Albemarle in 1762, [60];
large French emigration to, [61];
administration of Don Luis Las Casas, [63];
effect of the Revolution upon, [66];
bad times for, [68];
opening of the Cuban ports, [68];
"Cuba la Sempre Fiel," [69];
the beneficent government of Tacon, [72];
the prosperity of, declining, [73];
the first indications of rebellion, [74];
offers to purchase C., [77];
C. in 1860, [79];
the state of the island going from bad to worse, [81];
result of the work of the Commission appointed to enquire into the affairs of, [81];
Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the rebel army, [93];
U.S. trade with Cuba, 97, [113];
Cuban forests, [104];
economic condition of, [114];
C. Spain's death-trap, [115];
description of Havana, [121];
Marianao, [148];
the cafés and restaurants of Cuba, [155];
Cienfuegos, [161];
Trinidad, [172];
backward state of the plantations, [174];
Santiago de Cuba, [179];
the newspapers of, [189];
a Cuban plantation, [205];
the beauty of the Cuban night, [212];
a Cuban household, [214].
Cubana, the dance, [141].
Cubanos, or Cubans, filthy habits of the, [11];
descent from early Spanish settlers, [17];
characteristics of the, [18];
Voltarian and free-thinking works read by the, during the Napoleonic Era, [19];
many, educated, [19];
the C. not permitted to share in the Government until twenty years ago, [20];
C. who live for generations on one plantation, [20];
a very domestic people, [21];
isolation of the children, [21];
premature marriages, [21];
laxity of morals among the, [21];
morbid literature read by the, [21];
the drama, [22];
their love of music, [23];
their large families, [24];
the piety of the women, [24];
insincerity of the, in their religion, [24];
their contract with foreign ideas, [71];
their wish to be represented in the Cortes at Madrid, [71];
they petition Queen Isabella to appoint a Commission to enquire into the state of the island, [81];
C. in official positions, [112];
the Carnival in Havana, [139];
their theatricals, [144];
the Guajiros, [162];
early habits of the C. [168];
why they differ with the Spaniards, [176];
a Cuban funeral, [200];
a young Cuban lady, [215];
their partiality for smoking, [222].
Cucullo, the, [8].
D.
Decker, Mr, and the Miss Cisneros incident, [118].
Dinner, a Cuban, [154].
Dogs, [6];
the tiny spaniel and the colossal molasso, [6].
Drains, abominable condition of the, [11].
Drake, Sir Francis, appears off Cuba, [54].
Duck-hunt, a, [170].
"Dutchman's pipe," the, [150].
Dysentery among European colonists, [10].
E.
EARTHQUAKES, [3].
Eastern Province, the wholesomest part of the island, [11].
Education, impetus given to, by Las Casas, [18];
the education given by the Jesuits, [19].
Emancipation of the slaves, first steps towards the, [29];
its horrible results, [29].
Estates, the large, given to Spaniards, [20];
rarely if ever visited by the latter, [20];
curious custom on many Cuban estates, [20].
F.
Fan, the language of the, [138].
Ferdinand the Catholic, his opinion of the Spanish people, [70].
Fernandina, [39].
Filharmonia Theatre, an incident in the, [76];
the first appearance of Mme. Patti at the, [143].
Fish, [6]; tropical, [8].
Flora, beauty and variety of the, [10];
in the forests, [105];
some strange flowers, [128];
the banyan tree, etc., [148];
ferns, 151, [184];
the moon-flower, [213];
the silk-cotton-tree, [229];
the vegetation of New Providence, Bahamas, [231].
Florida, failure of Hernando de Soto's expedition to, [50];
given to the English in exchange for Cuba, [60].
Foreign residents, [20].
Forests, Cuban, 4, [104].
Fossils of prehistoric fauna, [6];
of human remains, [14].
France wishes to purchase Cuba, [77].
French Revolution, effects of the, upon the West Indies, [64];
remarks upon the, [271].
French settlers, persuade the Cubans to enlarge their sugar plantations, [4];
large emigration of, in 1765, [61];
they introduce the art of apiculture, [61].
Fruits of Cuba, [4]; oranges, bananas, etc., [154].
Funeral rites, [200].
G.
Galegos, immigration into Cuba of, [17] (in note).
Galleria, the, [145].
Gambling in Cuba, [144].
Game, prehistoric, [6].
Garcia, Manuel, the brigand, [101].
Genoa, the birthplace of Columbus, [238];
description and appearance of, [247];
the trade of, [255].
Genoese, the, [252];
the piety of the, [253].
Ghosts, Cuban belief in, [198].
Gomez, Maximo, Commander-in-Chief of the rebel forces, [93];
he retires to San Domingo, [95].
Government of Cuba, [74] (in note);
the bad, [77];
its backwardness, [115].
Governors, magnificence of the, [54];
their rapacity, [74].
Grant's Town, [228].
"Green snake," the, [232].
Grenada Gazette, 266, [271].
Guajiros, manners and customs of the, [162];
their supposed relationship with our own costers, [165].
Guanajay, [219].
Guava jelly, [217].
H.
Haskett, Mr Elias, Governor of the Bahamas, [267].
Hatuei, the Cacique, bravery of, [15] (in note).
Havana, the city of, society in, [23];
founded by Diego Velasquez in 1519, [49];
obtains civic rights under Las Casas, [50];
burnt by the buccaneers in 1528, [53];
rebuilt by Hernando de Soto, [53];
sacked afresh by the buccaneers, [54];
attacked by the Dutch under Admiral Jolls, who is repulsed, [54];
first theatre opened in, [56];
attacked and taken by the English under the Duke of Albemarle, 1762, [60];
Tacon rebuilds part of the town, [72];
Diego Velasquez calls Havana "La llave del Nuevo Mondo," [121] (in note);
view of the town from the harbour, [121];
the houses of, [123];
the Cerro, [125];
aristocracy of, [126];
cathedral, churches, promenades, gardens, streets, etc., [126];
mode of shopping in, [127];
the Botanical Gardens, [127];
eventide in, [129];
coaches, [131];
the churches, [132];
charitable institutions, [137];
the beggars of, [137];
the Carnival, [139].
Havana University established in 1721, [18];
several chairs created by Las Casas, [19];
almost entirely governed by Cubans, [112].
Heredia, José Maria, Cuba's greatest poet, [184].
Holy Week in Santiago, [181].
Horses, scarcity of, in Cuba, [55].
Hotels in Matanzas, the, [152].
Houses of Havana, the, [123]; of Matanzas,
[157].
Howe, Lord, Governor of Barbadoes, [266].
Hurricanes, [2] (in note).
I.
Iguana, the harmless but hideous, [9];
roast, [217].
Indian and Colonial Exhibition, [257].
Indigo, [4].
Inhabitants, earliest, [14].
Inquisition, or Holy Office, first introduced into Cuba, [18];
used against State prisoners, [58].
Insects, disagreeable, [8]; several insects first introduced into Europe from Cuba, [8];
the cucullo, [8];
mosquitoes, [126].
Institutions, charitable, [137].
J.
Jamaica, [275]; an earthquake, [276].
Jesuits, the education given by the, [19];
persecution of the, [34];
their first appearance in Cuba, [57].
Jewellery, quantity of, in Havana, [125].
Jews, the, in Cuba, [27].
Junta, Gran, in New York, [98];
excites the Americans against Weyler's atrocities, [117].
L.
Language of the early natives, [15].
Las Casas, aid given to education by, [18];
his good government, [50].
Las Casas, Don Luis, the good administration of, [63].
Leyes de Indias, Las, 18, [31].
Litterateurs of Cuba, [184].
Lizards, variety of, [9].
Louisiana, expedition to, under O'Reilly, [61].
Lowther, Mr, Governor of Barbadoes, [267].
M.
Maceo, cruelty of, [101];
his character and appearance, [110];
doubts as to whether he is shot, [111].
Mahogany, a once valuable product, [4].
"Maine" disaster, the, [120].
Maize, always been a necessity of life, [4].
Mangoes, [4].
Mantis, [207].
Marco Polo, [38].
Marianao, [148].
Matanzas taken by the English in 1762, [60];
its foundation and name, [152];
"The Golden Lion," [152];
description of M., [157];

its attractions, [158];
the Yumurri Valley, [159].
Mayas, importation into Cuba of, to take the place of coolie labour, [37].
Merced, [132]; the curious picture in the, [135];
its orchestra, [138].
Mexico, the Revolution in, [68].
Milanes, the poet, [186].
Monserrat, condition of the island of, in
the 17th century, [260].
Moon-flower, the, [213].
Morgan, Henry, the Welsh buccaneer, [52].
Morro Castle, [121].
Mosquitos, swarms of, [126].
Mountains of Cuba, [2];
unhealthy condition of the mountain regions, [4].
Music, Cuban, [190].
N.
Nassau, the city of, [226];
Grant's Town, [228];
the silk-cotton-tree, [229];
its magnificent bay, [233].
Natives, language of the, at the time of Columbus, [15];
their appearance and manners of life, [15];
extermination of the, [15] (in note);
modesty of the native ladies, [39];
condition of the, at the time of the discovery, [44];
their affinity with the natives of the neighbouring islands and the mainland, [44];
their number, [45];
their quiet life, [45];
and religion, [46];
Spanish cruelty to the, [47];
their few descendants, [48];
reduced to slavery, [49].
Narvaez starts from Santiago for Yucatan, [180].
Negroes introduced to replace the aborigines, [27];
the free blacks, [35];
their liking for gaudy dresses, [35];
in church, [35];
their love of music, [36];
rebellion of the, [64];
barbaric state of the rebel negroes, [109];
how the blacks enjoy themselves during the Carnival in Havana, [140];
piety of the, [142];
the n. at the opera, [142];
their superstitions, [193];
the n. of the Bahamas, [224];
their cleanly habits, [226];
the n. of Monserrat, [261].
Nelson, marriage of Lord, [277].
New Providence, Bahamas, [225];
a contrast after Cuba, [226];
its vegetation, [231];
the flatness of the island, [233];
the heavy dews, [236].
Newspapers, the, of Cuba, [189].
O.
Obi, the worship of, [193];
strange rites of, [194].
Ojo del Toro, Mountain of, [2].
Oranges, [4].
O'Reilly, Marshal, his expedition to Louisiana, [62].
P.
Palma, Señor Thomaso Estrado,
President of the Gran Junta in New York, [98].
Palm-trees, [205].
Patria, La, the Revolutionary journal, [98].
Payrete Theatre, the, [141].
Petition to the Queen-Regent of Spain, [119].
Philip II., laws framed by, [18];
fortifies Cuba, [54].
Philippe, Louis, wishes to buy Cuba, [77].
Pico Turquino, Mountain, [3].
Pine-apple, the, [4];
a plantation, [233].
Pinos, La Isla dos, a health resort, 5 and [11].
Plantations, or Haciendas, backward state of the, [174];
description of a, [205].
Population, sparse, in mountain regions, [4];
early inhabitants, [14];
present, [16];
the rural, [176].
Prim, General, proposes to sell Cuba to the U.S., [88];
assassination of, [90].
Procession, a religious, [169].
Propaganda, the archives of the, [258].
Puentes Grandes, [149].
Puerto Principe, founded by Diego Velasquez, [49];
description of, [192].
Punta, La, the fortress, [121].
Q.
Quesada, Manuel de, brother-in-law to Cespedes, elected Commander-in-Chief of the insurgent army, [87].
Quinsai, the imaginery city, [40].
R.
Railways, mainly in British hands, [26];
Cuban, [150].
Rainy season, [2] (in note).
Rebellion, the Cuban, real commencement of the movement, [64];
first steps towards open, [75];
open revolt under Cespedes, [82];
the holder of the funds decamps, [84];
want of money and arms, [84];
rebels worsted at Bayamo, [85];
the horrors which resulted, [85];
tragic death of Cespedes, [91];
Maximo Gomez elected Commander-in-Chief, [93];
the Treaty of Zanjou, [94];
abstention of the towns from taking part in the, [100];
organization of the, [101];
an encampment, [107].
Rebels, cruelty of the, [101];
number and organization of the, [101];
amusements of the, [109];
their priests, [109].
Reconcentrados, the miserable lot of the, [108].
Religion, insincerity of the Cubans in their, [24];
present religious awakening, [24];
toleration, [26];
religion and slavery, [34];
Catholicism in Cuba, [56];
ceremonies of the Church, [57];
an Archbishopric created, [58];
reaction in favour of, [138];
a procession, [169];
state of, in Monserrat, [260].
Reptiles: the red asp, [7];
scorpions, [7];
cure for the bite of a Cuban scorpion, [7].
Republic, the Cuban, proclaimed by, and Cespedes elected President, [87];
send envoys to England, France, and the United States, [87];
tragic death of Cespedes, [91];
Don Cisneros y Bétancourt elected President, [93];
Don Francisco Aquelera, third President, [93];
the Treaty of Zanjou, [94];
the Republican Parliament dissolved in 1879, [95].
Rincon, [151].
Rosario waterfalls, [6].
S.
San Domingo, revolt of the negroes in, [63].
San Francisco, the church of, [136].
San Salvador, first sighted by Columbus, [38].
Santiago, the province of, earthquakes in, [3];
healthiest half of the island, [11].
Santiago de Cuba, founded by Diego Velasquez in 1516, [49];
its bay, [178];
most historical city in the island, [180];
the cathedral, [181];
Holy Week in, [181];
a literary centre, [184].
Santoveneo, the late Countess of, [125].
Secret societies formed, [67];
branches in America, [98].
Shea, Sir Ambrose, Governor of the Bahamas, [232].
Shopping in Havana, mode of, [127].
Sierra de Cobre, [3].
Sierra Maestra, [1];
resemblance to Genoese Riviera, [2];
its peaks, [2].
Silk-cotton-tree, the, [229].
Slaves, female, [28];
the trade, [29];
the first steps towards their emancipation, and its horrible consequences, [29];
continued sale of, notwithstanding the law, [30];
their idea of freedom, [30];
laws to protect the, [31];
inhuman torture of, [32];
the household slaves, [33];
their long hours of labour, [34];
slavery and religion, [34];
slavery replaced by coolie labour, [37];
large importation of, [73];
an arrangement for freeing them, [82];
laws against them, [261];
advertisements for the sale of, [271];
good treatment of the, [270].
Society, Cuban, [23].
Sores, Jacob, the adventures of, [53].
Soto, Hernando de, his ill-fated expedition to Florida, [50];
he rebuilds Havana, [53].
Spain aids the American revolutionists, [62];
mistaken policy of, with regard to Cuba, [66];
her revolting colonies, [67];
revolution in S., [90];
maladministration of, in Cuba, [112].
Spaniards in the island, [17];
bigotry of, [18];
S. and Cubans compared, [18];
their way of living, [25];
their cruelty, [47];
hatred in which they were held in the West Indies, [51];
dissipation of the Spanish landowners, [175].
Springs, fresh, [6].
Stories of the Obi, strange, [194].
Sucking-pig, the universal love of, [217].
Sugar, French colonists persuade greater growth of, [4];
sugar canes take the place of coffee, [69];
depreciation in value of, [114];
backward state of the plantations, [174];
description of a s. plantation, [208];
how sugar is made, [211].
Superstitions, Cuban, [193].
T.
Tacon, the good administration of, [72].
Tacon, Theatre, the orchestra of the, [36];
the Carnival ball at the, [140];
description of the, [142];
great singers at the, [143].
Theatres in the West Indies, [274].
Tobacco, one of the chief products, [3];
some of the best plantations in British hands, [26];
the trade in a bad state, [114];
the story of, [218];
Cuban, [219];
the tobacco industry, [221].
Tom-tom, the, [36].
Torrecillas Theatre, the, [144].
Tortoise-hunting, [8].
Tortuga, Island of, the headquarters of the buccaneers, [52].
Torture of slaves, inhuman, [32].
Trinidad de Cuba, founded by Diego Velasquez in 1513, [171];
the starting place of Cortez on his expedition to Mexico, [171].
Turquino, the highest point in Cuba, [178].
Twilight, no, in Cuban latitudes, [174].
U.
United States, the, wish to annex Cuba by purchase, [78];
will not recognise the Cuban Republic, [88];
another proposal for the purchase of the island, [88];
indignation in, over the "Virginius" affair, [89];
importance of Cuba to the, [95];
her trade with Cuba, 97, [113].
University of Havana established in 1721, [18];
several chairs created by Las Casas, [19];
almost entirely governed by Cubans, [112].
V.
Valdes, Gabriel de la Concepcion, the mulatto poet, and his works, [186].
Varona, Don Enrique Jose, editor of La Patria, [98].
Vegetation of Cuba, [104].
Velasquez, Diego, sent to Cuba, [49];
founds Havana, Santiago, and other towns, [49];
impressed by the harbour of Havana, [121] (in note).
Villa Clara, [192].
"Virginius," affair of the, [89].
Volante, first appearance of the, [55];
how it looked, [131].
Vomito nigro, the deadly, [10];
whites attacked by, [104].
W.
Waterfalls, the Rosario, [6].
West Indies, general condition of the, during the 17th century, [260];
different Governors of the, [266].
Weyler, General, Marquis of Tenerife, administration of, [116].
Y.
Yams, [4].
Yellow fever, said to have first appeared in 1761: the quickness with which its victims succumb, [12];
statistics of, [103] (in note).
Yumurri Valley, the, [159].
Z.
Zambrana, Ramon, the poet, [188].
Zanjou, Treaty of, [94].