Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 4.djvu/633

 CUBA

559

CUBA

lies at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, between 19° and 23° N. latitude, and 74° and 85° W. longitude. Its western extremity. Cape San Antonio, approaches to within 130 miles of Yucatan, and its easternmost point. Cape Maisi, is within 50 miles of Haiti, the Windward Passage separating the two islands, while the soutliern end of Florida is less than 100 miles from the northern coast of Cuba. The island thus occupies a verj' important strategic position, commanding, as it does, the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico. It has a length of almost 7.50 miles from east to west, and its width varies from 100 miles, at the eastern end, to 30 miles in the western portion. Its area is .about 45,000 square miles, including the Isle of Pines, w^hich lies im- mediately south of its western extremity. It is there- fore a little less in size than the State of Virginia and about the size of England. It is divided politically into six provinces in the following order from west to east: Pinar del Rio, H.avana, Matanzas, Santa Clara, Puerto Principe (Camagiiey), and Santiago de Cuba.

N.^TURAL CHAR.\CTEniSTics. — The coast line, espe- cially along the southern shore, is dotted with numer- ous small islands, while both the north and south coasts h.ive many excellent bays and harbours ; those of Bahia Honda, Havana, Matanzas and Cdrdenas, on the north coast, and Batabano, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo, on the south, being accessi- ble to ships of deep draught. The principal feature in the physical geography of Cuba is a range of moun- tains which, more or less broken, runs through the cen- tral portion of the island from one end to the other. From this backbone the rivers run generally north and south, in sliort courses, to the sea. For the most part, low tracts intervene between the central elevation and the sea. The forests are noted for a great variety and abundance of hardwoods, some of which are un- surpassed for their special qualities. Among these are lignum-vita;, cocoa-wood, which somewhat resem- bles it, mahogany of superior quality and very abun- dant, and cedar. Though the forests are extensive and almost impenetrable, there are no large wild ani- mals. There are more than two hundred species of birds, many of them of exceedingly beautiful plumage. Tlic varieties of fish are even more abundant. In- sects are extremely numerous and of many trouble- some kinds, the most to Ije feared being the tarantula and scorpion; the most beautiful, the large fire-flies or cunii/nx, which emit a mild, steady light. Although the mineral riches of Cuba have not as yet been fully ex- plored, it is known not to be deficient in this respect. The precious metals have been found, but not in suf- ficient quantities to repay the cost of working There are abundant deposits of copper, alum, iron, marble, and manganese.

Lying just within the tropical zone, Cuba enjoys a wann climate throughout the year. This is tempered, during the summer months, by the cool north-east trade-winds which blow almo.st every day in the year from early morning until sunset, and also by the rains which are most frequent during those months. The year is divided between the hot, wet season, and the cool, dry season. From May to October rain and thunder are of almost daily occurrence; from Novem- ber to .4pril is the dry season, during which period the rainfall is comparatively light. The temjierature at Havana during the hottest month, August, averages 82° F. fluctuating between a maximum and a mini- mum of 88° F. and 72° F. During January, the cold- est month, the average temperature is 72° F., the maximum 78° F.. and the minimimi .5,8° F. The aver- age for the year is about 77° F. In the interior, and especially in the higher portions of the i.sland, the ther- mometer occasionally drops to the freezing-point, and thin ice may be seen on the surface of pools. Snow, however, is unknown throughout the island. There are no disea.ses specially endemic to the island. Yel- low fever was formerly very common and virulent, es-

pecially in Havana and other seacoast towns, though unknown in the interior. During the American occu- pation, however, such vigorous and thorough sani- tarj' measures were adopted that Havana, from being a plague spot and a menace to the ports of the Uniteii States, became one of the cleanest cities in the world.

History. — Cuba was discovered by Columbus dur- ing his first voyage, on the 2Sth of October, 1492. He took possession in the name of the Catholic monarchs of Spain, and named it J nana in honour of the Infante Don Juan. He again visited the island in 1494, and in 1502, and on each occasion explored part of the coa.st. He then believed that Cuba was part of the mainland, and it was not until 1.508 that Seba.stian Ocampo, by order of the king, circumnavigated it, and proved it to be an island. In 1511, Captain Diego Vela.squez, who had accompanied Columbus on his second voyage, was sent to Cuba to subjugate and colonize the island. He landed near Cape Maisf, the eastern extremity, and there was founded Baracoa, the first colony in' Cuba. In 1514 Vehi.sqviez founded Trinidad and Santiago do Cuba on the south coast, Sancti Spiritus, Remedios, and Puerto Principe in the central portion; and, on the site of the present city of Batabano, towards the western extremity of the south coast, San Cristobal de laHabana; this last name, however, was given, in 1519, to a settlement existing on the present site of Havana. The same year Baracoa was raised to the dignity of a city and a bishopric, and was made the capital, as it continued to be until 1.522, when Ijoth the capital and bishopric were transferred to Santiago de Cuba. Ha- vana became the capital in 1552, and has remained so ever since.

Upon the death of Ferdinand. 23 January, 1516, Velasquez changed the name of the island to Fcrnan- dina in honour of that monarch. Later, the name was changed to Sanliago in honour of Spain's patron saint, and still later, to Ave Maria in honour of the Blessed Virgin. During all these official changes, however, the island continued to be known by its orig- inal name of Ctiha, given it by the natives, and it has retained that name to the jiresent day. The aborig- ines (Siboneys) whom the Spaniards found in Cuba, were a mild, timid, inolTensive people, entirely unable to resist the invaders of their countrj', or to endure the hardships imposed upon them. They lived under nine independent caciques or chiefs, and possessed a simple religion devoid of rites and ceremonies, but with a belief in a supreme being, and the immortality of the soul. They were reduced to slavery by the white settlers, among whom, however, the energetic and persevering Father Bartolomi^ de LasCasas, "The Protector of the Indians", as he was officially called, earned a high reputation in history by his j)hilan- thropic efforts. (See Casa.s, Bartolome de las.) Tn 1524, the first cargo of negro .slaves was landed inCuba. Then began the iniquitous traffic in African slaves upon which corrupt officials fattened for many years there- after. The negroes were subjected to great cruelties and hardships, their natural increase was cheeked, and their numbers h.ad to be recruited Ijy reiieateil importations. This traffic constantly increa.sed, until at the beginning of the nineteenth century, slaves were being imported at the rate of over 10,000 per year.

In 1538, Havana was reduced to ashes by the French, and was destroyed a second time in 1554. In 1762, the city was taken by the Kngli.>;h, but within a year, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years War. it was returned to Si)ain in exchange for Florida. From this time the progress of Cuba was rapid. Luis de L.as Casas. who was sent to Cuba as captain general, was especially energetic in instituting reforms, and he did much for the prosperity and advancement of the island. During the nine- teenth century, however, Cuba was governed by a suc- cession of captains general, some of whom were hon-