Industrial Cuba Part 7

-----------------+---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+--------- Havana | 335,782| 116,146 | 39.00 | 13.49 | 74.30 | 25.70 Matanzas | 142,040| 117,538 | 16.74 | 13.85 | 54.72 | 45.28 Pinar del Rio | 166,678| 59,213 | 11.14 | 3.95 | 73.79 | 26.21 Puerto Principe | 54,581| 13,208 | 1.69 | 0.41 | 80.52 | 19.48 Santa Clara | 245,097| 109,025 | 10.62 | 4.72 | 69.27 | 30.73 Santiago de Cuba | 158,711| 113,668 | 4.52 | 3.24 | 58.27 | 41.73 +---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+--------- |1,102,889| 528,798 | 9.00 | 4.31 | 67.59 | 32.41 +---------+---------+--------+---------+--------+--------- | 1,631,687 13.31 100.

It will be observed that the number of whites is greatest in the province of Havana, but the highest percentage of whites is found in the province of Puerto Principe (80.52). The province of Matanzas shows the greatest number of the coloured race, which is explained by the fact that slavery prevailed more extensively in that province than elsewhere.

The proportion of males and females was as follows:

CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887

-------------------------+------------------------+------------------------ | NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.

PROVINCE. +------------------------+------------------------ | Males. | Females. | Males. Females.

+-----------+------------+-----------+------------ Havana...................| 243,966 | 207,962 | 53.98 | 46.02 Matanzas.................| 148,876 | 110,702 | 57.35 | 42.65 Pinar del Rio............| 122,829 | 103,062 | 54.38 | 45.62 Puerto Principe..........| 35,843 | 31,946 | 52.87 | 47.13 Santa Clara..............| 193,496 | 160,626 | 54.64 | 45.36 Santiago de Cuba.........| 137,590 | 134,789 | 50.51 | 49.49 +-----------+------------+-----------+------------ | 882,600 | 749,087 | 54.09 | 45.91 -------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------

Notice that in each province, males are in excess of females. The immigration of women into Cuba has always been small. The proportion of males and females of the white and coloured races is as follows:

CENSUS OF DECEMBER 31, 1887

-------------------------+------------------------------------------------- | WHITES.

+------------------------+------------------------ | NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.

PROVINCE. +-----------+------------+-----------+------------ | Males. | Females. | Males. | Females.

+-----------+------------+-----------+------------ Havana...................| 188,269 | 147,513 | 56.07 | 43.93 Matanzas.................| 79,362 | 62,678 | 55.87 | 44.13 Pinar del Rio............| 91,627 | 75,051 | 54.97 | 45.03 Puerto Principe..........| 29,473 | 25,108 | 53.99 | 46.01 Santa Clara..............| 134,412 | 110,685 | 54.84 | 45.16 Santiago de Cuba.........| 84,044 | 74,667 | 52.95 | 47.05 +-----------+------------+-----------+------------ | 607,187 | 495,702 | 55.05 | 44.95 -------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------

-------------------------+------------------------------------------------- | COLOURED.

+------------------------+------------------------ | NUMBER OF INHABITANTS. | PERCENTAGE.

PROVINCE. +-----------+------------+-----------+------------ | Males. | Females. | Males. | Females.

+-----------+------------+-----------+------------ Havana...................| 55,697 | 60,449 | 47.95 | 52.05 Matanzas.................| 69,514 | 48,024 | 59.14 | 40.86 Pinar del Rio............| 31,202 | 28,011 | 52.69 | 47.31 Puerto Principe..........| 6,370 | 6,838 | 48.23 | 51.77 Santa Clara..............| 59,084 | 49,941 | 54.12 | 45.88 Santiago de Cuba.........| 53,546 | 60,122 | 47.20 | 52.80 +-----------+------------+-----------+------------ | 275,413 | 253,385 | 52.46 | 47.54 -------------------------+-----------+------------+-----------+------------

Notice that the proportion of males is larger in the white race than in the coloured. The enumeration of the population of Cuba in 1877 resulted as follows:

CENSUS OF YEAR 1877

----------------+-------------------+-----------------+------------------ | Number of | | | Inhabitants. | DENSITY. | PERCENTAGE.

PROVINCE +---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+--------- | Whites.|Coloured.|Whites.|Coloured.|Whites. |Coloured.

----------------+---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+--------- Havana..........| 321,951| 113,945 |37.59 | 13.24 | 73.86 | 26.14 Matanzas........| 160,806| 122,315 |19.11 | 14.41 | 56.80 | 43.20 Pinar del Rio...| 128,986| 53,218 | 8.62 | 3.55 | 70.79 | 29.21 Puerto Principe.| 57,692| 11,553 | 1.78 | 0.36 | 83.32 | 16.68 Santa Clara.....| 219,294| 102,103 | 9.50 | 4.42 | 68.23 | 31.77 Santiago de Cuba| 143,706| 86,115 | 4.09 | 2.45 | 62.53 | 37.47 +---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+--------- |1,032,435| 489,249 | 8.42 | 3.99 | 67.85 | 32.15 +---------+---------+-------+---------+--------+--------- | 1,521,684 12.41 100 ----------------+--------------------------------------------------------

The increase in population from 1877 to 1887 was 110,003 individuals, or 7.23 per cent. The number of whites increased 70,454; the number of coloured people increased 39,549. Asiatics in this census, numbering 43,811, were included with the whites.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CUBAN "GUARACHERO" (MINSTREL).]

There are four cla.s.ses of Cuban residents: the whites, the coloured, the blacks, and the Chinese.

The whites comprise native Cubans, Spaniards, and foreigners; a certain proportion in the interior being Canary Islanders, who are fitted by const.i.tution, habits, and tastes for farm work.

The native Cuban is usually bright, and is gifted particularly with a remarkable memory. Children are very precocious, and, when given educational advantages, they develop into men of no mean ability. In addition to the intelligent Cubans residing in the Island, whose reputation in different branches of learning extends abroad, there are many who have attained honourable distinction in foreign countries, in compet.i.tion with others whose advantages were conspicuously greater. Dr.

Albarran, the well-known Paris physician, and Albertini, the violinist, are two of the many Cubans who have struggled and succeeded in Europe by dint of their individual exertions and natural talents. In America, a most distinguished professor of civil engineering, two leading civil engineers in the navy, and the most eminent authority on yellow fever in the country are native Cubans.

Havana is the only city in Cuba where any instruction is obtainable, and it is noticeable there that even the boys of the poorer cla.s.ses are anxious to follow the university courses after leaving school.

In former days the sons of wealthy Cubans led the typical life of gentlemen of leisure. It was customary among them to take a profession, if that could be accomplished with little or no exertion. The remainder of their lives was usually spent in travelling through Europe. The present generation, however, is very different. It is composed of the sons of men who have been on the verge of bankruptcy for many years, owing to their thoughtless extravagance. They have had to work for their living from the moment they have left college, and, owing to the increasing poverty of the Island, they have never been able to reconstruct the fortunes ill spent by their forbears. The consequence is that one finds in Cuba the younger generation to be, as a cla.s.s, vastly superior to the older men in principles, education, and working capacity.

The Cuban is more a.n.a.lytical than inventive. His mind easily grasps subjects on which he has received very little information; but he is decidedly lacking in inventive and constructive power.

The Cuban mother is very affectionate, but her maternal fondness often leads her into indulgence of the many failings of childhood, that, in later life, are impossible to overcome. Prevarication and pilfering are no uncommon failings of child-life in Cuba. Despite these weaknesses, children are so generous that their parents find it hard to prevent them from sharing their pocket-money with their young friends. Their politeness and affability are striking.

Cuban hospitality is proverbial. In the old and prosperous days of wealth it was a common thing for whole families to const.i.tute themselves guests at the country-house of some friendly sugar-planter, and spend Christmas or Holy Week there without having given the host a word of warning. The planter, far from resenting this proceeding, invariably provided entertainment for his self-invited guests in the shape of riding parties, picnics, and dancing, considering himself highly honoured by the unforeseen advent of his friends. Like most Southerners, the Cubans are musically inclined. They dance well, and prolonged dancing parties are a favourite form of amus.e.m.e.nt.

There was an old Spanish law, in force up to some years ago, which ent.i.tled all suitors in marriage, whose proposals had been opposed, to demand that the lady's parents state before the courts the reasons of their objections. There are interesting cases recorded of proud young Cubans who, animated by a high sense of honour, have availed themselves of this harsh expedient, in preference to breaking their vows to their lady-loves. The opposition in most cases was due to the fact that the father of the young lady was Spanish and the suitor Cuban. There is an instance of a man prominent in Havana circles who, taking advantage of this privilege, married a lady, and refused to accept his wife's patrimony, and the father-in-law brought suit to compel him to do so. It was only after many years, when the allowance, handed periodically to the court, had acc.u.mulated to a considerable sum, that a compromise was reached and a reconciliation took place between the father and the married couple.

Cubans are very much attached to family life. Deep affection usually exists among the members of families, and they follow each other's affairs with great interest, even after the families break up.

In Cuban houses, the first morning meal, or "coffee" as it is called, consists of coffee and rolls; breakfast then follows at ten or eleven o'clock, consisting, usually, of fried eggs, hash, fried plantains, sweet potatoes, meat, and _cafe au lait_. Dinner takes place at six or seven o'clock. Occasionally fruit is served at two or three o'clock.

Visits are exchanged in the evening; but ladies follow the European custom of calling in the afternoon. Most families have an "at home" one evening every week to receive their friends. Married ladies may go out shopping alone early in the day. Among intimate friends young men occasionally call on their young lady friends alone, but this is not general, European customs prevailing.

The Cubans are very fond of fencing, and it is remarkable that the good fencers scarcely ever have duels, or seek quarrels. Duelling is practised _ad libitum_ in all Cuba among the upper cla.s.s. Just before the war it had become an everyday occurrence; in fact, in one week as many as five duels took place between men well known in Havana society and clubs. As a rule the seconds manage to stop the fight after the first wound, even catching at the pretext of a flesh wound on the forearm; appealing to the attending surgeon to state whether he considers the wound will impair the free use of the arm, and also if there is any chance of nervous twitches setting in from the pain. It is unnecessary to add that the surgeon invariably finds that it is very likely that all of these contingencies may occur--thereby stopping the duel, and "honour is satisfied."

Baseball, bull-fights, and c.o.c.k-fights were the most popular entertainments until recently; c.o.c.k-fights have waned now in popularity considerably, whilst bull-fights are patronised by the Spanish element exclusively. Baseball continues to hold public favour, and since its introduction some twenty years ago a taste for athletics has developed among the Cubans, which was lacking before. Horse-racing was in vogue while there was capital to import foreign half-breeds, but it has now completely died out.

The foreign population of the Island is comparatively limited. A large number of German merchants are engaged in all branches of the tobacco business, which they practically control. It will be found that the knowledge and experience of the Germans in this respect have given them preferment in the direction and management of the largest syndicates and tobacco firms. A sprinkling of English, Americans, and French are to be found throughout the country.

The coloured inhabitants of Cuba (mulattoes) are usually the children of black women and white fathers--the cases of a white woman having children with a black father being so rare as to be nearly unknown. In the cities the mulattoes are servants,--not hotel waiters, for they are all Spaniards,--barbers, and occasionally musicians. Mulatto women, though usually very statuesque in appearance, are unprincipled and insolent.

[Ill.u.s.tration: A NATIVE HUT.

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY J. F. c.o.o.nLEY, Na.s.sAU, N. P.]

The Cuban negro inherits from his forefathers, the African slaves, a physique and a character strengthened and tempered by the toil of generations. During the sugar season he works steadily, from four in the morning until sunset every day, taking only two hours of rest with his meals. The coloured population shows no inclination to be on terms of equality with the white, and though under General Calleja's administration negroes and mulattoes were all granted the handle of "Don" (Mr.) to their names, and though the right to be recognised in hotels, theatres, street-cars, etc., on equal terms with the whites has been extended to them, they have not availed themselves of the privilege to any extent.

The savagery of the African negro has, unfortunately, shown itself among his descendants in the Island. Some years ago a secret society called "nanigos" was introduced in Havana. These nanigos are divided into bands, whose object is to fight and kill each other. They commit all sorts of depredations and crimes. It has often been shown that the police have been in their pay. Some four hundred were banished some time ago to Spanish penitentiaries, together with political suspects, with whom they were chained in couples and marched through the streets of Havana prior to embarking. This is one of the many acts of refined cruelty that the Spaniards committed during the late insurrection; most respectable and honourable men, accused of sympathising in the cause of the rebellion, were chained arm to arm with negroes of the lowest caste, who, besides being convicted for crime, defiled the very atmosphere around them from the filth of their attire. The nanigos have lately been returned to Havana and set free, where they have lost no time in renewing their criminal work.

The Chinese element was brought over by contract for working on sugar plantations. They were virtually slaves until the Chinese Government intervened in their behalf.

The following extract from the comprehensive report of Mr. Robert T.

Hill, of the United States Geological Survey on the Island of Cuba, may be considered as authority on the subject of population:

THE CUBANS

"Seventy-five percent. of the native population of the Island is found outside of the Spanish capital of Habana, which, being the seat of an unwelcome foreign despotism, is no more representative of Cuban life or character than is the English city of Hong Kong of the rural Chinese. While the Habanese have had the freest communication with the United States during the last three years of the revolution, Americans have had little opportunity to hear from the true white Cuban population. The Cubans are mostly found in the provinces and provincial cities, especially in Pinar del Rio and the eastern provinces of Santa Clara, Puerto Principe, and Santiago. Although of Spanish blood, the Cubans, through adaptation to environment, have become a different cla.s.s from the people of the mother country, just as the American stock has differentiated from the English. Under the influence of their surroundings, they have developed into a gentle, industrious, and normally peaceable race, not to be judged by the combativeness which they have developed under a tyranny such as has never been imposed upon any other people. The better cla.s.s of Camagueynos, as the natives are fond of calling themselves, are certainly the finest, the most valiant, and the most independent men of the Island, while the women have the highest type of beauty. It is their boast that no Cuban woman has ever become a prost.i.tute, and crime is certainly almost unknown among them.

"While these people may not possess our local customs and habits, they have strong traits of civilised character, including honesty, family attachment, hospitality, politeness of address, and a respect for the golden rule. While numerically inferior to the annual migration of Poles, Jews, and Italians into the eastern United States, against which no official voice is raised, they are too far superior to these people to justify the abuse that has been heaped upon them by those who have allowed their judgment to be prejudiced by fears that they might by some means be absorbed into our future population.

"Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the Cubans have laboured, they have contributed many members to the learned professions. To educate their sons and daughters in the inst.i.tutions of the United States, England, and France has always been the highest ambition of the creoles of Cuba and Porto Rico.

The influence of their educated men is felt in many countries, the most distinguished professor of civil engineering, two leading civil engineers of our navy, and the most eminent authority on yellow fever in our country belonging to this cla.s.s. Thousands of these people, driven from their beloved Island, have settled in Paris, London, New York, Mexico, and the West Indies, where they hold honourable positions in society, and even the exiles of the lower cla.s.ses, with their superior agricultural arts, have been eagerly welcomed in countries like Jamaica, Mexico, and Florida, which hope to share with Cuba the benefits of its tobacco culture.

"THE NEGROES

"In addition to the white creole population, thirty-two per cent.

are black or coloured--using the latter word in its correct signification, of a mixture of the black and white. This black population of Cuba has been as little understood in this country as has been the creole, especially by those who have alleged that in case Cuba should gain her freedom the Island would become a second Haiti. The black and coloured people of the Island as a cla.s.s are more independent and manly in their bearing than their brethren of the United States, having possessed even before slavery was abolished on the Island the four rights of free marriage, of seeking a new master at their option, of purchasing their freedom by labour, and of acquiring property. While the negro shares with the creole the few local rights possessed by any of the inhabitants, their social privileges are greater than here, although a strong caste feeling exists. Miscegenation has also produced many mulattoes, but race mixture is no more common than in this country.

"The coloured people of Cuba belong to several distinct cla.s.ses.