ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR OF HAVANA.
SIXTH THOUSAND.
HISTORY OF CUBA
OR,
Notes of a Traveller in the Tropics.
BEING A
POLITICAL, HISTORICAL, AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE
ISLAND, FROM ITS FIRST DISCOVERY TO THE
PRESENT TIME.
BY
MATURIN M. BALLOU
L'ile de Cuba seule pourrait valoir un royaume.
L'Abbé Raynal.
ILLUSTRATED.
BOSTON:
PHILLIPS, SAMPSON AND COMPANY.
NEW YORK: J.C. DERBY.
PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT, GRAMBO & COMPANY.
1854.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by
PHILLIPS, SAMPSON & CO.,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
Stereotyped by
HOBART & ROBBINS,
New England Type and Stereotype Foundery
BOSTON.
[Pg iv]
TO
His Friend,
FRANCIS A. DURIVAGE, ESQ.,
As a small Token of Regard for
HIS EXCELLENCE IN THOSE QUALITIES WHICH CONSTITUTE STERLING MANHOOD; AS A
TRUE AND WORTHY FRIEND; AS A RIPE SCHOLAR, AND A GRACEFUL AUTHOR,
This Volume
IS
CORDIALLY DEDICATED
BY
THE AUTHOR
PREFACE.
The remarkable degree of interest expressed on all sides, at the presenttime, relative to the island of Cuba, has led the author of the followingpages to place together in this form a series of notes from his journal,kept during a brief residence upon the island. To these he has prefixeda historical glance at the political story of Cuba, that may not be unworthyof preservation. The fact that the subject-matter was penned in thehurry of observation upon the spot, and that it is thus a simple record ofwhat would be most likely to engage and interest a stranger, is his excusefor the desultory character of the work. So critically is the island nowsituated, in a political point of view, that ere this book shall have passedthrough an edition, it may be no longer a dependency of Spain, or mayhave become the theatre of scenes to which its former convulsions shallbear no parallel.
In preparing the volume for the press, the author has felt the want ofbooks of reference, bearing a late date. Indeed, there are none; and theonly very modern records are those written in the desultory manner ofhurried travellers. To the admirable work of the learned Ramon de laSagra,—a monument of industry and intelligence,—the author of thefollowing pages has been indebted for historical suggestions and data. Forthe privilege of consulting this, and other Spanish books and pamphlets,relative to the interests and history of the island, the author is indebtedto the Hon. Edward Everett, who kindly placed them at his disposal.Where statistics were concerned, the several authorities have been carefullycollated, and the most responsible given. The writer has preferred tooffer the fresh memories of a pleasant trip to the tropics, to attempting alabored volume abounding in figures and statistics; and trusts that