close of a communication dated July 1, 1824. Many of the scholars have taken a very lively interest in their studies, during the present term, and have made very gratifying proficiency. The two highest classes have been required to commit to memory a given number of verses every evening, from Matthew's Gospel. A part of the Sabbath was spent in the same way. So anxious were they to excel in this exercise, that they might often be seen taking their food and committing their lessons at the same time. They would sometimes recite twice as much as they were required to do. In this way, during the season of long evenings, a large proportion of these classes recited from 20 to 25 chapters, many hymns, lessons containing words and phrases in in Choctaw and English, and a variety of pieces from other books. Several, who were further advanced than their classmates, recited Matthew's Gospel once, and half of it a second time. These, and some others who best understood English, were taught geography a part of the evening, by Mr. David Wright. Ten studied geography. All Cummings's questions on the map of the world were recited twice in these evening exercises. Having committed and recited their lessons in geography, they retired to their sleeping rooms, and committed sometimes twenty verses before going to rest. During several weeks in the winter and spring, the two highest classes attended to penmanship; under the tuition of Mr. Wright one hour each day.* Some acquire this art with uncommon ease. The boys generally have succeeded better in other branches, than in arithmetic. None have proceeded further than the Rule of Three. A great majority of Choctaw names, so far as we have been able to judge, have some reference to the act of killing. All these have their termination in tub-bee, nub-bee, ub-bee, hub-bee, or chub-bee † The primary reference was doubtless to killing men in war, the secondary to killing animals in the chase. Distinction in either of these ways is an object of great ambition with almost all savages; especially is distinction for killing men the highest glory. The time is drawing to a close, however, in which this distinction can be gained by the American Indians. The power of the whites is so predominant, that Indian wars Mr. Wright commenced a residence, at a new establishment near Capt. Folsom's, about the end of May. Since the above was written, we have observed one instance, in which the name begins with ub-bee. will not be permitted, in any part of our continent, many years longer. It has long been the boot of the Choctaws, that they have not shed the blood of white men. As to complexion, the same diversity is apparent among Indians as among ourselves. Some of the full Indians are so light, that, if protected from the weather as much as the people of our own country, they would not differ many shades from a dark Englishman. (To be continued.) SOUTH AMERICA. BUENOS AYRES. WE made some mention, at p. 90, of efforts by Messrs. Brigham and Parvin, to establish Lancasterian schools in the city and country of Buenos Ayres. At p. 96 we stated, that a school, on this principle, had gone into operation. From letters dated at the close of May, and received by the Corresponding Secretary, it appears that the exertions of Messrs. Brigham and Parvin are still attended with very encouraging success. In the month of February, Mr. Parvin issued proposals for opening an Academy, with recommendations from Mr. Rodney,* our Minister to the government of the country, and two other highly respectable gentlemen. In the course of two months, the school increased to about 20 scholars, chiefly natives of the city and sons of influential men. The principal object of attention in the Academy, during that time, was the English language, which, from the great influx of English people and English books, is rapidly increasing in importance to the Buenos Ayreans. The English New Testament was one of the class-books. The avails of this institution are considerably more than equivalent to Mr. Parvin's support. A Sabbath School for Protestant children has, also, been established, in which there were about 20 scholars, who appeared to take much interest in the exercises, and made very commendable progress in the acquisition of religious knowledge. Some of their friends often attended to animate them, and at the close of each month rewards were bestowed consisting of tracts, sermons, and copies of this work. We learn, from a more recent arrival, that Mr. Rodney died suddenly on the 10th of June. Religious worship has, moreover, been commenced at the house of a pious English friend. There Messrs. B. and P. preach on the Sabbath, and hold every week one or more evening meetings. Their congregation is gradually increasing. tion of religion, such as exists in this country, will be proclaimed before many years. In Buenos Ayres there is considered to be between 3,000 and 4,000 Protestants. Mr. Brigham expected to cross the mountains into Chili, during the present autumnthe spring season on that side of the Equator. But previous to crossing them, he proposed spending a little time in Cordova and Meu They regard their field of usefulness as extending every day; and are not without || strong hopes, from the rapid increase of intelligence in the community, that a free tolera- Il doza. Remarks on the Esland of Cuba. THE following notices respecting the island of Cuba, are furnished by a gentleman, who, for the benefit of his health, spent some part of the last winter and spring on that island. They take their particular character from the fact, that the writer spent most of his time travelling in the interior, and was chiefly conversant with planters and rural scenery. The statements may, it is thought, be relied on as correct; and they are as full, as time, and circumstances, and a due regard to health, would permit them to be.-As Cuba has not hitherto been well known to the people of this country, as we have a great and increasing commercial intercourse with it, but especially as all the West-India Islands are attracting attention as a promising field for evangelical labors; the belief is entertained, that many readers of the Missionary Herald will be pleased to see on our pages such sketches as we now present them. Preliminary Remarks.-Cuba had the honor of being discovered by Columbus, on the 28th of October, 1492. It was supposed to be a part of a great continent till 1508, when it was circumnavigated by an officer named Obando. In 1511, Don Jago Valasquez, with a force of 300 men, conquered and colonized it. He first built St. Jago de Cuba, on the south-eastern part of the island, and afterwards the Havana, on the northwest. This latter city is now the capital. The island extends from 73° 50′ to 85° 30′ W. Longitude, making a difference of longi. tude of 11° 40,' or about 700 English miles. The body of the island being, however, curv ed, and not laying exactly east and west, a line passing through the middle of it, from one end to the other, would probably exceed 800 miles in length. The medium breadth of the island is estimated at 75 miles, so that its superficial contents can fall little short of 60,000 square miles-an area larger than that of England and Wales. Its greatest Latitude is 23° 20′, and its least 19° 40' N. Of course it falls just within the northern limit of the torrid zone. produce, which comes annually down the Mississippi, and from all the shores of the Mexican Gulf, passes of necessity almost within sight of the Havana, before it can come into the Atlantic. The commercial importance of the island may, then, easily be seen. It is great at present. But when, in the lapse of ages, the tide of population from the east and south shall meet in now unexplored regions, and agriculture shall pour forth its golden treasures from the Mississippi to the Rio del Norte and the Rocky Mountains, then the importance of this island must become immeasurably great. Appearance of the country.-The coast between the Havana and Mantanzas-a distance of about 70 miles-has a barren aspect, exhibiting spots of rich vegetation only here and there. In some places it is covered with a stunted brush wood; and almost uniformly is elevated enough to conceal from those, who sail along the shore, every thing beyond, except the summits of mountains in the interior. But there are a few openings, through which the delighted beholder looks up into regions of perpetual verdure. I have reason to suppose that this general description will apply to the whole northern coast. The southern is said to be less elevated, and more fertile. The Gulf Stream separates the island from Florida on the north; and the Old Bahama Channel divides it from the Great Bank of the same name, and numerous small islands, on the north-east. Its eastern point approaches near to the western extremity of Almost the whole surface of the interior Hayti. Jamaica is not far from its most is pleasantly diversified with hills and vallies, southern limits. South-west is the Carib-plains and mountains. The vallies are usu bean Sea. And on the west and north-west is the the Gulf of Mexico. The position of this island is such, that, owing to the influence of the Trade Winds and of the Gulf Stream, the vast amount of ally narrow, and often deep; and the plains level, and sometimes extensive. The mountains are generally abrupt, and never rise to a great height. A ridge passes through the middle of the island from E. to W., though with some interruptions. Once in particular it yields, for the space of 60 miles, to a plain, which is said to stretch across the island. Over some part of this vast plain I travelled. It is level as the ocean, and possesses a rich soil: but only a small portion of it is yet brought under cultivation. The finest scenery is found among the mountains. Even where the improving hand of man has never been applied; where the wilderness, through which the savage roamed, still remains; and only a narrow, winding footpath guides the traveller;-the eye is coutinually delighted with rich and romantic views. The forest teems with vegetable life, so as to be almost impervious. The tall, crowded trees are tied together by festoons of numberless creepers, which ascend from branch to branch, till they overlook the wood, and rejoice in the clear sunshine. Sometimes the traveller descends into a deep ravine, and there, beneath the everlasting shade of lofty, woody declivities, finds the rocky bed of some dried up torrent. Sometimes he rises imperceptibly upon elevated land, till he looks abroad over an area of large extent, embracing plains, of various elevations above the sea-abrupt cones, apparently of volcanic origin-irregular, precipitous ridgesand occasionally a part of the ocean. Some times he emerges suddenly from a beautiful wilderness of vegetation into an open heath, where the eye ranges unobstructed over thousands of acres, and where nothing grows but a dwarfish species of palm, and an almost worthless grass. Here the rocks assume a darker aspect, and seem to have changed their nature. But there is no scenery which the art and industry of man cannot improve; and art and industry have done much in many parts of this island. In vain do I strive to give to one, who has never visited a tropical climate, a correct conception of the appearance of a landscape there, when dressed up and adorned by a tasteful agriculture. Many of the plants, shrubs and trees, which in this country form articles of choicest luxury, are there indigenous, and are among the common productions of the soil. And these, when flourishing in their native earth, and under the free rays of a sun duly proximate, exhibit a deeper and livelier hue, and a greater luxuriance of foliage and growth. Even when standing insulated and alone, how lovely do many of these plants, shrubs and trees appear to a northern eye! But when brought together by hundreds, or thousands-when arranged by the purest taste and most practised eye-when spread abroad over an extended plain-when loaded with fruit, useful, various, and abundant-and especially, when one is standing in the midst of all this vast and beautiful garden, traversing avenues, neat, broad, straight, crossing each other at frequent intervals and at right angles:-then, I had almost said, there is something before the mind, which nature unaided never equals. Still there are parts of the island, espe cially large tracts of cleared, uneven country devoted chiefly to pasturage, which recalled New England to my mind. The palms, indeed, which grow every where, with their straight, naked trunks, and tufted tops waving high in the air, suggested nothing analogous to themselves; but, these apart, there was much in that pastoral scenery, which resembled scenery rendered dear by long acquaintance and a thousand pleasant associations. On the whole, I must regard Cuba as a magnificent island. The features of it are by no means so majestic as are those of the Mexican table lands: but almost every where is to be seen splendid variety, and inexhaustible richness. Soil-Enough has been said, to convey the idea, that the soil of Cuba is immensely productive. The mountains, indeed, have usually a thin soil. The torrents of the rainy season have in many places left little but a mass of lime-stone. There are, also, many parts where there is hardly a sufficient depth of earth to preserve vigorous life in plants, during the dry season: and I have already remarked, that, along the the margin of the northern shore, the soil is not generally productive. But after every abatement, it is the fact, that a very large proportion of the island-perhaps five parts out of six-is excellent for tillage. This is emphatically true of the numerous, and often very extended plains; upon which the more valuable plantations of sugar, coffee and tobacco, are chiefly situated. On these plains there is generally a deep, warm, mellow soil. One would think that they had been, in some former period, covered with water, and that the water had passed off through openings between the hills, gradually or suddenly formed; and perhaps, too, by subterranean passages to the sea, produced by some great natural convulsion. There are, at present, in almost every plain, crevices in the rock that lies beneath the surface, called sumideros, of unknown depth, and leading no one knows whither, which absorb vast quantities of water. The soil on these plains is sometimes 40 feet deep, and is the same in its nature quite down to its rocky bed. More generally it is from three to four feet in depth, and rests on limestone, or clay, or a hardened compound of both. The soil is of various kinds. The first which I notice is the most common, at least in the parts of the island which I visited. It seems to be a mixture of clay and sand, colored by an oxide of iron. Its color generally approaches near a scarlet red, and if wetted it gives a deep stain. I have seen it used as the base of a paint for the doors, windows and wainscots of respectable houses. Beneath the surface, it has a degree of moisture and cobesion. This is the soil preferred for coffee. A deep black mould is also very common. Where there is much depth, the growth upon it is rapid and luxuriant, and as it retains moisture better than the red, it is more esteemed for the sugar cane. Its color in some places inclines to grey, but without any apparent diminution of its richness. The relative positions of the red and black struck me sometimes as a singular phenomenon. Generally the dividing line is distinct, and the transition from one to the other sudden. When crossing the mountains of Madruga, called by sailors, to whom they are a land mark, "the Iron Hills," I observed the line of division running along the summit of the ridge from west to east: on the north was the red soil, and on the south the black. I also remarked the same on two or three other ridges, of different heights, in other parts of the island. Often veins of black traverse the red, in various directions, across the plains. Another kind of soil is composed of mixtures, in different degrees, of red and black, and is there denominated mulatto soil. Lying on a bed of clay-which forms another class -it needs much draining; and when properly attended to in this respect, it is highly productive. I saw the clay in considerable purity, only beneath this species of earth. There are other varieties; but they fell not particularly within my observation, and do not, I believe, extend over large tracts of land. Cultivation. The soil is capable of bringing to perfection a great variety of useful fruits, of which a few only can be specified: -Two and sometimes three crops of excel. lent maize are raised in a year. Without trouble the finest rice is produced on the black and mulatto earths, during the rains. I was told that wheat and oats would flourish. Plantains, bananas, yams, and sweet potatoes, grow in great abundance. Cabbages, lettuce, carrots, turnips, various kinds of beans, green peas, asparagus, and numerous other esculent vegetables, may easily be furnished for the table. A magnificent dessert may be formed of the pine-apple, orange, guava, avocado-pear, mango, tamarind, grape, melon, pomegranate, and other fruits too numerous to mention;-some of which are indigenous to the island, and all are adapted to its climate. Cotton is a native of the island, and of a superior quality; but it has not been found productive. The great objects of the planters, however, are sugar, coffee and tobacco. But a small portion of the island is yet brought under cultivation. Perhaps little more than a sixth part of it, is improved in any way. The jurisdiction of Havana, which extends over the western part of the island, contains about 35,000 square miles, or 22,000,000 of acres. From the "Guia de Forasteros de Isla de Cuba," for 1824, I have ascertained the number of sugar, coffee and tobacco plantations, and also the number of small farms and herbaries, within this jurisdiction. The average number of acres assigned to each, in the following table, is conjectured, but the number assumed is thought to be large. The results go far to substantiate the assertion made above. There seem, therefore, to be at least 18,000,000 of acres of unimproved land within the jurisdiction of Havana. The jurisdiction of St. Jago de Cuba, which includes the eastern part of the island, contains not less than 16,000,000 of acres, of which probably a twentieth part only is improved. Thirtythree millions of acres on this island are then unimproved! And yet more than 25,000,000 of acres must be regarded as arable land; much of it exceedingly rich; and all lying, as I shall by and bye remark more fully, in one of the finest of climates Sugar, coffee and tobacco being the chief productions, and forming the principal exports of the island, I may be expected to describe briefly the mode of their cultivation. Respecting the last, however, I shall say nothing, as it fell only partially within my notice, being raised chiefly in the parts of the island west and south-west of the Havana, where I did not find it convenient to go. I simply remark, that the superior quality of the Havana tobacco is, by the inhabitants, attributed to the nature of the soil; and that the tobacco produced in different districts of the island, is thought to possess very unequal excellence. Sugar Plantations.-The cane is a jointed reed, terminating in blades, or leaves, whose edges are finely serrated. When ripe, its color inclines to yellow. It is filled with a soft, pithy substance, abounding in juice, which, coming from the fresh cane, is very delicious. The distance between the joints of the cane varies from two to five inches; and its average diameter is about three-fourths of an inch. The common height of the cane is from five to seven feet. It is cultivated by laying short piecesusually the tops-horizontally in holes or trenches, and covering them with earth about two inches deep In a few days the young sprouts appear, and, as they grow, earth is gradually drawn around them Precisely the same attention is needed by the cane, that is given to Indian corn. The season for planting is the autumnal months, and the cane is ripe for the mill in about a year and a quar ter. A single planting answers for several years. So much nutriment is contained in the juice of the cane, and so freely is it drank during the harvest, that although the poor slave then works very hard-often I fear much too hard-at no time of the year does he look so well, or enjoy better health. The ripest cane is of course cut first, but only enough from day to day to supply the demand. The mill, in which it is ground, consists of three upright, iron-plated cylinders, between 30 and 40 inches in length, and from 20 to 25 in diameter. The power is applied to the middle cylinder, which moves the other two. A slave, standing in front, thrusts the cane between the middle cylinder and the one at the right; and another slave, on the other side. sends it back between the middle cylinder and the one at the left, by which time the juice is pretty thoroughly expressed. This is conveyed into the boiling house, along a wooden gutter lined with lead, where it is received into what is termed the clarifier. Here the temperature of the liquor is raised nearly, but not quite, to boiling heat; a small quantity of quicklime is thrown in, which is supposed to take up some vegetable acids, that prevent the granulation of the sugar; and the impurities, rising to the surface, are skimmed off. The juice is then removed to a boiler, and, as the evaporation proceeds, through a series of boilers, until it acquires the consistency of syrup. If muscovado, or the common brown sugar, is to be made, this syrup is then put into large, shallow vessels, and is allowed to cool and granulate undisturbed; when it is placed in hogsheads, the bottoms of which are perforated with holes. Through these the molasses passes into a channel, that conveys it to a reservoir; and from thence it often goes to a distillery, and is converted into rum. But I saw only one plantation, where muscovado sugar was made in considerable quantities. The general custom in Cuba, is to carry the process of refining further than this. In the first place, the syrup is poured into a trough, and is beaten while it is cooling. It is then put into conical earthen vessels, containing as much as a negro can carry, and having both ends open. That the molasses may be thoroughly carried off, these vessels are placed upon a frame, with their apex downward, and moist clay is spread over the top of the sugar. The water from the clay, filtering through the sugar, dilutes the molasses, and carries it through the open apex, into a channel, formed like an inverted roof of a house, which transmits the whole to a reservoir. Sugar, thus purified, is, for an obvious reason, denominated clayed sugar. It is the common white sugar. In general a gallon of juice will produce a pound of sugar; and an acre of cane will furnish from fifteen hundred weight to a ton; sometimes much more. The fields of cane, which fell under my observation, consist of from 200 to 400 acres each. Coffee Plantations.-The coffee tree has only a single stem, which rises perpendicularly, and is well filled with branches from within a foot of the ground upwards. In order that the fruit may be gathered with facility, the tree is not suffered to grow more than five feet and a half high. Its general form is conical. A coffee-field is laid out with great attention to order and beauty. A piece of level ground is chosen, which usually has a red soil, and is generally free from stones. A square, or parallelogram is then marked out, containing from 100 to 540 acres, to be enclosed in a hedge of limes, pinon, or so other suitable material. The lime hedge is very beautiful, being from four to six feet thick, and having its top, by frequent trimming, a perfect level. The pinon is not so beautiful; but it takes less room, requires less attention, makes as good a fence, and is more durable. Having defined the boundaries of the estate, the principal avenues through it are next laid out; and they are generally two, three, or four rods wide, straight, and intersecting each other at right angles. In the finished VOL. XX, estates, these are usually ornamented and shaded, on each side, by rows of the orange, citron, mango, almond, avocado, and palm trees, &c. At the termination of one of these, and situated perhaps on elevated ground, is the house of the planter. Smaller avenues are next made, parallel with the others. All these avenues are preserved free from weeds, and are kept smooth and neat. Thus the whole ground is thrown into squares, which are to be filled with coffee plants. These, having previously grown to the height of one or two feet, from seeds sown under the shade of some grove, are carefully transplanted, and are arranged in rows parallel with the avenues, and nearly six feet apart. A square contains 10, 20, or 50 thousand'trees. By the third year from this time, they begin to remunerate the planter; and at the end of six or seven years, may be regarded as mature. When a tree dies, a new one takes its place; but the original plantation is expected to live about 15 years -Among the coffee, especially when it is new, the plantain is suffered to grow, for the purpose of giving bread to the negroes. Here and there, also, the orange and citron trees lift their golden fruit above the surface; and far above all the rest, the privileged palm, in every direction, waves its beautiful summit. Such plantations are great, splendid gardens, and are justly regarded by the inhabitants as the glory of their island. The plantations that are finished, contain from 100,000 to 400,000 trees in each, and are wrought by from 40 to 400 negroes; and in proportion to the gross income, the expense of conducting them is said to be considerably less, than that of the sugar estates. Hence their number is more rapidly augmenting. The trees generally blossom in February, and in the early part of May, and sometimes oftener; but the blossom, on which most dependence is placed, is the one in May. Then a vast level surface, white as the drifted snow, is presented to the beholder; but varied and enlivened by the taller trees just mentioned. The harvest commences in September, and ends in February or March. If within this time the average of half a pound of coffee is gathered from each tree, the har vest is esteemed good. When the berries acquire a dark red color, they are considered ripe for gathering, and the negroes, properly equipped, are sent into the field. An industrious negro will gather five bushels in a day; and a bushel in the pulp, fresh from the tree, is expected to yield at least 10 pounds of good coffee. It is then pread upon extensive dryers made of stone and mortar. This process requires nearly a month. The husk, or shell is then separated from the seed, in a mill, which exactly resembles the mills in this country, where apples are ground in a circular trough, by a huge, rolling stone-excepting that the roller for the coffee is wood, though of considerable weight. In a few cases, a machine of a very different construction is used; but it need not be described. The pulp being removed, the whole is exposed to the action of a fan, and then of a sieve; after which the female slaves carefully 37 |