fore them--Simon
Bolivar, the Liberator--Revolutions of 1823 and 1826--General
Lorenzo and the constitution--The assumption of extraordinary power
by Tacon--Civil war threatened--Tacon sustained by royal
authority--Despair of the Cubans--Military rule--A foreign press
established--Programme of the liberal party--General O'Donnell--The
spoils--Influence of the climate, 25

CHAPTER III.

Armed intervention--Conspiracy of Cienfuegos and Trinidad--General
Narciso Lopez--The author's views on the subject--Inducements to
revolt--Enormous taxation--Scheme of the patriots--Lopez's first
landing, in 1850--Taking of Cardinas--Return of the invaders--Effect
upon the Cuban authorities--Roncali recalled--New
captain-general--Lopez's second expedition--Condition of the
Invaders--Vicissitudes--Col. Crittenden--Battle of Las
Pozas--Superiority of courage--Battle of Las Frias--Death of Gen.
Enna--The fearful finale of the expedition, 38

CHAPTER IV.

Present condition of Cuba--Secret treaty with France and
England--British plan for the Africanization of the island--Sale
of Cuba--Measures of General Pezuela--Registration of
slaves--Intermarriage of blacks and whites--Contradictory
proclamations--Spanish duplicity--A Creole's view of the crisis and
the prospect, 54

CHAPTER V.

Geographical position of the island--Its size--The climate--Advice to
invalids--Glance at the principal cities--Matanzas--Puerto
Principe--Santiago de Cuba--Trinidad--The writer's first view of
Havana--Importance of the capital--Its literary
institutions--Restriction on Cuban youths and education--Glance at the
city streets--Style of architecture--Domestic arrangements of town
houses--A word about Cuban ladies--Small feet--Grace of manners and
general characteristics, 66

CHAPTER VI.

Contrast between Protestant and Catholic communities--Catholic
churches--Sabbath scenes in Havana--Devotion of the common people--The
Plaza de Armas--City squares--The poor man's opera--Influence of
music--La Dominica--The Tacon Paseo--The Tacon Theatre--The
Cathedral--Tomb of Columbus over the altar--Story of the great Genoese
pilot--His death--Removal of remains--The former gr