conspicuous natural feature in
the landscape being the graceful palm tree in its many varieties. We
passed, too, many sugar plantations, the growing cane not at all unlike
our own cornfields at home, while the long lines of negroes, at work
with their hoes, in the crop, made the fields appear even more familiar
and home-like. Our friends, the "darkies," evidently did not contemplate
suicide. Sleek and well-fed, they were chattering like so many flocks
of blackbirds.

Arriving at Havana we took up our quarters at Mrs. B.'s hotel, and as my
first object was to find Colonel Helm, the agent of the Confederate
Government, I started for that purpose immediately after our arrival.
The Colonel had held the position of United States Consul before the
war; and the residence then occupied by him was now tenanted by his
successor. Being directed to this house by mistake, I was ushered in by
the servant, and found myself face to face with Captain S., the American
Consul. We were not totally unacquainted, having met occasionally in
bygone days, when both of us were in the United States Navy. The
surprise was mutual, and the awkward silence was interrupted by my
saying "Apparently I am in the wrong pew." "Evidently," he replied, and
we parted without another word.

With the assistance of Colonel Helm our business in Havana was speedily
transacted; and passage was engaged for the whole party on board a
Spanish steamer bound for St. Thomas, thence to take passage by the
British mail steamer for Southampton.

The few days spent in Havana were pleasantly passed in sight-seeing;
the afternoons being devoted to a ride upon the "paseo," and the
evenings closed by a visit to the noted "Dominica" the principal cafe of
the city. There are many beautiful rides and drives in the environs, and
the summer heats are tempered by the cool refreshing sea breeze which
blows daily. That scourge of the tropics, yellow fever, is chiefly
confined to the cities of Cuba, the country being salubrious; and it
appears strange that this beautiful island has never been a favorite
place of resort, during the winter, for invalids from the Northern
States in search of an equable climate. It must be confessed that Havana
itself possesses few attractions for the stranger and that its sanitary
arrangements are execrable. In addition to the imperfect municipal
regulations in this respect, all the sewage of the city empties itself
into the harbor, in which there is no