Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/549

 CUBA 545 traversed by rocks of granite, syenite, gneiss, and euphotide. The gradual decline of the lime formations toward the north and west indicates marine connection of the same rocks with the low lands of the Bahamas, Florida, and Yucatan. The W. part is granitic, and as primitive schist and gneiss have been found, it is presumed that out of these formations came the gold which was so earnestly sought for in the early days of the conquest. The central part contains calcareous formations of clay, limestone, and gr6s. In the compact and ca- vernous layers are contained ferruginous veins and the red earth so common in Cuba. These result from the decomposition of superficial layers of oxidized iron with silica and slate, or with the limestone above them. Humboldt classified this formation as the Guines lime- stone, and regarded it as the most ancient for- mation, that in Trinidad and elsewhere being more recent. He considered the gypsum of Cuba as of secondary and not tertiary forma- tion. He also drew a line between the Guines limestone and the conglomerate of the keys and small islands off the S. coast. Notwith- standing the so-called plutonic formations, there are no lavas of recent date. Almost all metals and minerals applicable to industry are found in Cuba : gold, silver, iron, copper, quicksilver, lead, asphaltum in all its various forms, anti- mony, arsenic, magnesia, copperas, loadstone, gypsum, red lead, ochre, alum, salt, talc, &c. Gold is found in the Saramaguacan and other rivers. Silver occurs at San Fernando, Pinar del Eio, Canarse, and Yumuri. There is cop- per in almost all the metamorphic rocks all over the island. It is found usually in the form of copper pyrites, sulphurets, and carbonates. Coal fit for combustion has not been discovered. Springs and mines of bitumen exist in various parts, sometimes in a calcareous and sometimes in a serpentine formation. The interstices of the serpentines, diorites, and euphotides are generally filled with chapapote, a highly in- flammable bitumen, which is used as a substi- tute for coal. There are large deposits of rock salt on both the N. and S. coasts. Marble and jasper of very fine quality are found in many places. In the isle of Pines are beautiful color- ed marbles, and a quarry of white marble but little inferior to statuary marble. There are immense deposits of pure white sand, suitable for earthenware. The climate is warm and dry during the greater part of the year, but it is more temperate than in other islands of the same latitude, and more equable than in many more northern countries. The thermometer never rises so high as it sometimes does in New York in the hot months, and sunstrokes are unknown. From May to October the heat seldom reaches 100 F. in any part of the isl- and. The highest recorded temperature, in observations extending over many years since 1801, was 104. In December and January the air is cooled by the N. winds, and the thermometer has occasionally fallen to the freezing point. Havana is 77 ; The average temperature of maximum 89, minimum 50. The average temperature of the hottest month is 82, and of the coldest 72. In Santiago de Cuba the average of the year is 80; of the hottest month 84, of the coldest 73. The topographical position of Cuba reduces the four seasons of the year to two, the rainy and the dry. In the former the rain pours down in torrents almost every day. The rainfall in the island in one year has reached 133 inches. The rainy season begins in May or June and ends in November, when the season known as the "cold" or the "dry" commences. The most rain falls in September and October. In the dry season the dews are very abundant both at night and in the early morning. The average number of rainy days in a year is 102. The greatest rainfall noted in Havana in a year is 50 in. 6 lines; the smallest, 32 in. 7 lines. In the Eastern department it hails frequently between February and July. There is no record of snow having fallen in. Cuba, excepting on Dec. 24-25, 1856, when the coldest term ever known on the island was experienced, and snow fell near Villa Clara, in the central part of the island. Violent thunder storms occur from June to September. Earthquakes are seldom felt in the western districts, but are frequent in the eastern, especially in the vicinity of Santiago de Cuba. The salubrity of the climate is variously estimated. Some writers consider it favorable to prolonged life ; but the most re- markable instances of longevity have been found among the negro and aboriginal races. Others think it unfavorable to health. The yellow fever is justly feared by Europeans and those coming from more temperate climates. The Cuban physicians believe that this disease was not known in the island till 1762. It is not yet known in the interior, and its appear- ance at many places is recent. It was in- troduced into Puerto Principe only a few years ago by Spanish troops. The vegetation of Cuba is very luxuriant. The forests contain some woods almost as hard as iron. One of them is called the quiebra TiacJia, the axe- breaker ; others, such as the jucaro, are im- perishable even under water. For fine, furni- ture they are unrivalled. The marquetry work of the apartment in the Escorial used by Philip II. was made of these woods. Few of these varieties are found excepting in the West India islands, but their value was long ago ap- preciated by the Spanish government, and led to the establishment of ship building in the island as early as the beginning of the 18th century. From 1724 to 1796 Havana was the great nursery of the Spanish navy, but the work was finally abandoned because it took employment from the mother country. Lig- num vitse and various kinds of dye woods, ebony, rosewood, mahogany, cedar, fustic, lancewood, and many woods suitable for building purposes such as acana, jocuma, &c.,