Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom

tricts-A Cuban Bill o

e-Sports of the Carn

d for Bread-Cattle Ra

sland-Education and

ship

ustomed to in his own land. If he has read Prescott and Irving, he knows something of Castilian manners and customs in theory, but as the peculiarities of the people, thei

asionally he may plow, or sow a little grain, or even pick fruit, but, as a rule, he leaves the labor to the negroes. If he lives on a main-traveled road, he may possibly provide entertainment for man and beast, where he delights in gossiping with all who come his way, and is ready to drink whenever invited. Ne

itious, if not religious. Gambling is his chief delight, and hi

the neck of the horse. Her dress is the acme of simplicity (sometimes rather too simple to suit conventional ideas), and consists of a loose frock, and a handkerchief tied around her neck. Like her husb

BILL O

difference extends even to their food and the manner of preparing it. In the populous centers, especially among the be

pork are served for dinner, together with plantains and a stew composed of fresh meat, dried meat, green plantains, and all kinds of vegetables. These are cooked

AMUS

ty cousins. They have their special amusements, some of which seem cruel to people of refin

laced in the ground, with a rope stretched between them, on which a live goose is hung with its feet securely tied, and its head thoroughly greased. The contestants are on horseback, and ride at full speed past the goos

ich a little girl, dressed as an image, rides in a wagon, decorated with banners and flowers. Men in costumes of Indians lead the way, followed by others clad as Moors. A band is a necessary adjunct, and b

dressed as knights of old, on horses splendidly adorned, race

dance peculiar to Cuba, is performed to the music of the guitar, accompanied by the voices of the dancers. It consists of fantast

LAND

undred acres each, and on them are raised vegetables, chickens, small fruits and other table delicacies, for the city trade. Properly looked after, this business might be one of great profi

low and the white. The soil and the climate are not favorable to the cultivation of the Irish potato, and it

ous than wheat or potatoes, it is produced in vastly larger quantities from the same area, and with far less effort. It closely resembles the banana, and is in fact ofte

g has been entirely abandoned, and kilns built, wh

CHES AND S

are realized. Herds of vast numbers roam over the prairies, receiving no attention from their owners, and are sold without any preliminary fattening. Fa

black, prepared from the bones, is sold in immense quantities t

wn to the original inhabitants of the island, it is supposed that the Cuban horse of to-day comes from Spanish stock, and the fact that it differs so greatly from those animals, both in appearance and quality, is explained by the changed climatic conditions in its breeding. Whatever its origin ma

FUNERAL C

e dead. First come small boys, with white linen gowns over their clothes, short enough to display their ragged trousers and dirty shoes. A boy in

ld man comes tottering along, personating the acolyth, the bell-ringer, the sacristan, or other church dignitary, as may be necessary, croning out in his dreary voice, as he swings the burning censor, the second to the

rs, burning candles, and sprinkling the coffin with holy water, after which the priest goes his way, and the procession takes up its line of march for the newl

of the house shut for six months. In fact, by an ordinance of the government, it is now prohibited to display the cor

ITABLE

s kind need hesitate to accept the invitation. There is little travel or communication on the island, so even if the guest be an entire stranger, his host will feel amply repaid for his hospitality by the news the traveler brings from the outside world. There is a good old custom among the Danes, that

ON AND

any kind, and even among the higher classes of society, liberal education is very far from being universally diffused. A few literary and scientific men are to b

stern interior, and both at Havana and Santiago de Cuba there is a college in which the branches of ecclesiastical education are taught, together with the humanities and philosophy. Besides this there are several private sch

rs of Cuba enjoy, we quote a decree issued by Gene

ife, governor-general, captain-general of the Is

f the law of public o

l, 1

r and

news concerning the war which is n

tical character without the authority given by the secretary of the gove

tend to lessen the prestige of the mother-country, the army, or the authorities, or to exaggerate the forces and the importa

xth of the decree of February 16th last, will make the offenders liable to

ninsula, which is in force in this Island, will be held responsible fo

e penalty of said offense, and shall give cause

d against their resolutions, which must be always well founded, the interest

IANO

April

ON OF TH

its conquest, but it may be estimated at from 300,000 to 400,000. There is but little doubt, however, that before 1560 the whole of this

total population was 1,631,687. Of this number, 1,111,303 were whites, and 520,684 were of negro blood. These figures m