coal-droger. The crew of one of these craft were in Bartolo's house-very dirty and rough-looking fellows, who kicked up such a row that I feared for my personal safety. I picked up my valise and went out, and inquired if a droger would soon leave, and received an answer that one would sail in half an hour. Upon this announcement, I took a small boat, and went at once on board. I asked the captain where I could sleep, and he said on the coal-bags, as there was no other place. The danger of my position then began to dawn on me. I was there without the knowledge of any of my friends, and if I were lost, my fate would remain a mystery. My apprehension was increased when I ascertained that the crew thought I was a planter from Altamisal, and might have money, and this, of course, was enough to excite their cupidity. I lay down on the coal-bags on deck, and soon heard a furious altercation going on in the small hold of the droger. Shortly after, one of the party came up, and asked if I were not a planter from Altamisal; but I replied that I was only a poor artist going to Havana. This information appeared to satisfy them, and all human violence quieted down.

No sooner had the little droger got outside than a furious norther began to blow. The rain fell in torrents, the wind howled, and the seas hissed like writhing serpents. It was truly awful. The crew cursed most blasphemously every saint in the calendar. The little droger battled bravely with the storm and sea; but at length she faltered, and even the crew thought we should soon be swallowed up by the greedy sea, and the dastards fell to praying lustily for mercy and safety. A night like this is one in a lifetime. I have never seen such another. Wet through by the drenching storm, in peril of life from the rascals in the boat and from the ocean without, the morning came like a burst of joy to a heart darkened with grief. The morning sun rose over the level floor of the sea near the side of a small key, the white sands of whose sloping beach flashed away in the distance like a band of silver edging the green shores of tamarind and palm.

We took the rowboat, with plenty of provisions and a sail, and landed on Viviana Key, where we stretched the sail to make a tent. The good earth seemed to welcome my feet, and to inspire me with a new faith in its security after my recent see-saw on the fluctuating waves. The forest gave forth the scent of balm and blossom, and every object rested in quietude.

Our camp was fixed on a bright, clean strip of the beach, and all hands made ready for a rude frolic.

A plain bow with a brass string was used as a musical instrument. The performer put his mouth over the string at one end, while he struck it at the other with a strip of flexible leather, and by opening and closing the mouth in different degrees all the sounds of the gamut could be produced, the music resembling that of the jews'-harp, but much louder. This novel banjo struck up, and a ring of swarthy men formed for the mazy dance. Thinking I might make better music for them, I opened my valise to take out my accordeon; and in doing this a few miniatures were seen, which pleased them, and confirmed my statement of the previous night that I was not a planter, as they had originally thought. The accordeon especially interested them, as they had never heard or even seen one, and they insisted on my playing. Its music set them wild with delight, and the dusky sailors danced and waltzed over the smooth beach as if they were mad. Four or five other drogers ran into the little harbor, dropped anchor, and the crews came ashore. They said that they had heard the "flute " as they were passing, and had turned in to join the frolic. With this oddly dressed, sooty, and wild increase to our company, the scene was very like the Indian dances in the American forests.

After this first act was over, the feast was spread in a primitive way, and, there being only one knife and fork, these were given to me-more, I suspect, as a tribute of honor to the accordeon than of respect to me personally.

Viviana Key became the principal rendezvous of the pirates, and the entrepôt for their goods. They ultimately became so bold as to capture many slave-ships; but this touched a cherished interest in Cuba, and the government interfered and broke them up. The notorious Juan de la Rosas was imprisoned until his death at his own house in Matanzas. This man and Matthew Garcia of Regla were the leading spirits of the pirates on the whole coast, and had as many as twelve leaders under them, directing about five hundred men. Garcia has built a palace at Regla, but the stucco constantly peels off, and the common people say, "So much blood is mixed with it that it cannot stick."

It is the general belief that the pirates were nearly all Spaniards; but it is due to the latter to say that this is not true, as these lawless bands were largely recruited from

other nations, having among them Portuguese, Corsicans, Italians, Germans, and even, I am ashamed to add, some Americans. Many persons in Cuba, without having engaged in any active violence, owe their money to the pirates, some by purchasing. the stolen property, and others by acting as agents or factors for its sale. Public opinion in Cuba was opposed to piracy, as it tended to paralyze commerce, and retarded the development of the country; and all classes combined to suppress it. Slaving, on the contrary, had the public sympathy, and was winked at on all sides, not only by citizens, but by the officials of the government.

We remained on this islet for two days, when, the norther having subsided, the drogers pursued their way to Havana, where we arrived safely, after a slow passage.

After my long absence in the country, the city seemed greatly changed for the better. The newly paved streets, the new markethouse, and other innovations introduced by Tacon, gave a cheerful appearance to everything, and, in addition, the government house, called the "palace," had been repaired. This is an ancient structure, having been for eighty years a Jesuit convent. The lower apartments are rented as cigarstores, or as offices for professional men; the second-story rooms are used as studios for artists, or as private lodgings; while all the apartments of the third tier are occupied as government offices. I rented five rooms on the second floor, opposite the Church of San Domingo. My studio was immediately under the sitting-room of General Tacon, and I saw him at four o'clock every afternoon, when he rode out in an open carriage, surrounded by his lancers. I thus had an excellent opportunity of observing his habits. He encouraged the people to approach him freely, so that any petition for the redress of grievances might be handed to him personally, as he thought that in this way many things might come to his knowledge which otherwise he would never learn, and he rode out to inspect the public works as well as for his own recreation. The benefit of his desire to draw near the people was manifested as he was about to leave the palace, one evening, on his usual ride, when he was warned of a contemplated rising among the negroes outside the walls of the city, and instantly changed his plans.

drawn until they were nearly dead from suffocation; then they were released until life was restored, their heads were struck off, inclosed in parrot-cages, and set on the bridges as a warning to others.

TACON'S SHREWDNESS.

IT was not alone in these cases of differences in humble life that General Tacon manifested his administrative ability. In the difficulties arising during the disaffection of General Lorenzo he displayed the most eminent qualities of the ruler, and the result proved his sagacity to be greater than that of his sovereign. Pressed by the successes of the Carlists and desirous of conciliating the people, Queen Christina signed the constitution of 1812, which was very liberal in its provisions. The news of this act was forwarded to Cuba, and first reaching Santiago, the military governor, General Lorenzo, hastened to have the constitution proclaimed. When this act of the queen was known to Tacon, he took a different view, and decided to arrest Lorenzo's movement. He properly concluded that the queen's action was not voluntary, but that she had been constrained to take the step by circumstances, and that the liberal ebullition would soon subside. Possessing chief command, Tacon sent a force of three thousand men by land, and all the fleet with transports of troops by sea, to oppose Lorenzo. He displayed his accurate knowledge of Spanish character by ordering that the forces pursue a policy of "masterly inactivity." They were to be always advancing, but to delay their actual meeting with Lorenzo as long as possible, so that his forces would be kept in constant apprehension, and their new-born patriotism would have an opportunity to subside and leave not a trace behind. The sea expedition stopped frequently along the coast, and the land forces delayed similarly; and General Lorenzo and his army, as anticipated, were overcome by sheer expectancy, and the whole matter ended with the escape of the general to Spain and the dispersal of his followers. After this, affairs went on as before, and Tacon was undisputed ruler, and his wise forecast was verified, as the Spanish government, after a temporary change, ultimately became as absolute as

ever.

A PIONEER RAILWAY.

General Tacon. The means were furnished by a Mr. Robinson of England, and the survey was made by a Mr. Cruger, an engineer from South Carolina. Large numbers of the lower classes of English were shipped out, and many Irish laborers came from the United States, to construct this work. Soon after operations began, the yellow fever made dreadful havoc with the men. In a month four contractors died in succession; but the work was steadily pushed on, notwithstanding this frightful mortality. Great quantities of material came from England, among which were two heavy locomotives, originally constructed for a road in Russia. When the road was completed as far as Guines, these locomotives were put on for the trial trip; but, to the astonishment of all, it required three days to make the round trip from Havana, though the distance was only forty-five miles. In approaching Havana, these massive engines were unable to mount an easy grade, except by the assistance of oxen. This ridiculous situation made the Spanish directors furious, and the English adroitly placed the whole blame on Mr. Cruger, the constructing engineer; or, in other words, they alleged that the fault lay with the road, and not with the engines, and the dons had not the experience or knowledge to see the falsity of this statement. Mr. Cruger saw the true difficulty, and gave his opinion to the board of directors, and, to verify the correctness of his judgment, offered to proceed to the United States and bring out American engines and engineers; and for the proper performance of his mission he pledged his salary as security. The proposition was accepted, and he went to Philadelphia, where he procured a locomotive from Norris, and another from Baldwin, which arrived safely at Havana. The first trip to Guines and back was made in seven hours, and this was thereafter made the standard of time. The directors afterward passed an order that from that time on no Englishman should be employed, or English engines used, on that road.

This railroad passed through an open grazing region filled with cattle. The bulls, being unacquainted with the engine, undertook to drive the stranger out of the range, and fights constantly occurred; indeed, many bulls seemed to come from a distance to have a tilt with the enemy. But the result, both to those from near and those from far, was equally disastrous, and many brave animals. were slaughtered that might have died in a better cause. The owners became very much

exasperated, and many of them instituted suits against the railroad company, but met the same fate in the forum that their bulls met in the field. The engine went on its trips in triumph, and the country folks and the cattle kept their distance, and all was harmony until an unfortunate accident once more disturbed the public peace, with the difference that this time not a bull, but a man, was the victim. As the locomotive was going down the seven miles' grade, under full speed, a man was seen on the track. Everything was done to attract his attention, but he remained immovable, and was killed. The case was investigated by the court, and it transpired that the man was a deaf-mute. The occurrence being entirely novel, it was decided by the court that all concerned in driving the locomotive were as guilty as if the deaf man had been killed by a knife in their hands. This decision caused all the engineers to resign, and the trains to stop running. Travelers were very much dissatisfied, all interests were affected, and the clamor was great. As the result of this state of affairs, the sapient court was forced to reverse its decision, and the locomotive was triumphant.

It is not alone in public improvements that the superior ability and enterprise of the Americans are manifest. Many from the United States have made fortunes in various occupations, exhibiting energy and sagacity in all. Among others was a Mr. Lambsden, a native of Baltimore, who erected a steam saw-mill, and then a foundry, the only one at that time in the city; and he was supposed, by reason of his great success, to have accumulated an immense fortune. Another foundry was afterward established at Regla by Mr. McNair, a Scotchman, who also met with great success; and this gentleman returned to Scotland, married, and brought out his wife. Rather more than a year after this another American, a Mr. Orr, and I were invited to be present at the christening of their first-born. On our way to Mr. McNair's residence, Mr. Orr bought, for twenty-five cents, half a lottery ticket from a passing vender, and after our arrival he divided his interest between Mrs. McNair and her sister. Three hours later the whole ticket drew one hundred thousand dollars. This was the only instance that I ever knew where success in this way did not stimulate to ruinous gambling.

BRIBERY.

MANY ingenious Americans fail in introducing useful inventions, or " acquiring a privi

lege," as it is called, in Cuba, because they are ignorant of the customs of the people. A Captain Hurd was some time in Matanzas, trying to procure for a Boston company the privilege of constructing a wharf in the harbor out to deep water. The land at the extremities of his contemplated wharf was public domain and could be easily included in his grant at a nominal price, while the advanced figure at which it could afterward be sold would materially aid in erecting the improvement. All these privileges could be gained by giving a "gratification" to the members of the Ayuntamiento. The captain thought these gentlemen were too honorable to be influenced by a bribe, and he would not offend them and violate his own conscience by offering one. The Ayuntamiento met to consider the scheme. Action was delayed, awaiting the usual gratification. It was not offered, and the application was refused.

The reverse of this picture is shown in the case of a Yankee who took his cargo into the harbor of Havana. A custom-house officer watched his actions very closely, and this espionage materially interfered with many profitable little schemes which the captain had in view. He walked confidently up to the officer and asked him if he could see through a doubloon placed over each of his eyes. The ready Spaniard took the meaning at once, and replied: “No; and if you should put a doubloon upon each ear, I could not hear; and put another on my mouth, and I could not speak." The sensible captain spread his gratification accordingly, and did as he pleased. It is an insult instantly resented to offer a bribe to a Spaniard, but the same thing under the disguise of a gratification is the magic key which opens all doors in Spanish countries. General Tacon was the only Spanish official I ever knew who would not accept a bribe.

AN EXCHANGE OF COURTESIES.

THE French fleet, en route to attack Vera Cruz, with the Prince de Joinville in command, touched at Havana. The Cubans felt a special interest in the prince, as at that time he was looked upon as the future husband of Isabella II, Queen of Spain. The French consul secured apartments for his Highness at the Mansion House, then considered the best hotel in Havana. It was kept by Mme. Martenier. She was originally from New York, had married a French gentleman, and was now a widow. At this hotel the prince was entertained three days, a

guard of one hundred soldiers being present the whole time. Mme. Martenier had a very talkative parrot, which hung in a cage in the corridor, near the door of the apartments of his Highness. The bird's fair mistress noticed that her royal guest had taken a great fancy to the bird, and would pause on his way to his apartments and have a chat with "Polly." She at once bought a silver cage with a gold handle for her pet, and dressing herself up en grande tenue, appeared before the astonished prince, and presented Polly, with the costly house, to him. He was much affected by this evidence of her esteem, and drawing a diamond ring worth about two thousand dollars from his finger, begged her to accept it as a slight token of his admiration. This memento was ever afterward her great pride.

All the old noblesse of the island, who had befriended his father, Louis Philippe, in his misfortunes, united to do him honor. A great entertainment was given to the prince by the Count of Penalver, at which the wealth, beauty, and nobility of Havana were fully represented. Great care was taken and no cost spared in getting up the display, as the élite were exceedingly anxious that it should be agreeable to the prince and creditable to themselves.

The prince arrived about eleven o'clock, and all those present stood to receive him. He acknowledged this courtesy with a bow, and then turned to converse with the captain-general, but neglected to request the company to resume their seats. The interview was long and animated. Finally a nobleman ventured to suggest that his Highness would be seated, as the ladies were wearied from standing so long. He did so, and the daughter of the Count of Penalver played some extracts from "Norma" for his entertainment, and he complimented her effort. Soon after, the prince and the governor retired, before the dance. His whole conduct on this occasion mortified the formally polite Spaniards, and the host and all the company felt it keenly. A proper remembrance of their kindness and generosity to his father in his dark days merited a bearing, on his part, which would have shown his gratitude; but the Spaniards remembered the slight, as we shall see later on.

The French fleet pursued its voyage. Vera Cruz was attacked and taken, and France obtained her demands from the republic of Mexico. On his homeward voyage the Prince de Joinville made a second visit to Havana. In the meantime, the king, his

father, had written him, requesting him to do something to indicate his Majesty's gratitude for the favors he had received from the citizens of Havana during his exile. Accordingly, the decks of the Créole were cleared and decorated, and the prince gave a splendid ball, to which the captain-general and the nobility were invited. The company was the same that had before entertained him, and had been so much mortified by his slight. They accepted the invitation, however, and a large and brilliant assemblage crowded the decks of the gallant Créole. The prince was highly pleased, but judge of his chagrin when, precisely at the hour that he had deserted the salons of the Count of Penalver, his visitors left with courtesy but firmness. This retort was certainly a severe rebuke.

A LEARNED MAN.

AN amusing anecdote is related of an occurrence which happened while the prince was at Havana. He and his principal officers were entertained at a dinner-party by the Count of Fernandina at his private residence. The count, now an old man, had in his younger days been a great reader, and, as a consequence, had accumulated a fine library. He used this little now, but it grati

fied his pride, and was still ornamental. The tutor of his only son, knowing the count's ambition to be thought literary, went into the library, took from the shelves many choice works, inserted marks in different places, as though they were frequently consulted, and then placed them on a centertable. After dinner the prince and his officers were shown into the library. The former, stepping up to the table, remarked that the count must be a great student, and running his eye over the marked places, complimented him highly upon his excellent literary taste. The old count was exceedingly flattered, and accepted the praise with that grace a Spanish gentleman knows so well how to display. After the withdrawal of the company, the delighted old count called the tutor into his room and presented him with six doubloons. M. Parinoue was surprised, and asked the reason of this unexpected gift. The count replied: "Because of your presence of mind, you have a great deal of knowledge." Such tact is greatly admired by the Spanish, and regarded as an evidence of talent. Deception is not considered morally wrong by the Spanish races, as it is with us, and when it is successful, they regard it as almost a virtue, and certainly the best evidence of intellectual superiority.

"The Century's" New War Series.

WE can hardly believe that fifteen years have

passed since we made the announcement in this place of THE CENTURY'S series of historical narratives, afterward known as the "War Series," and in enlarged form as "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War." Yet it is easier of belief when we discover by reference to the obituary list that of the 230 contributors to that volume-almost entirely officers of high rank-63, or over 27 per cent., have already died, leaving among the most conspicuous survivors Generals Longstreet, Fitzhugh Lee, Hampton, E. P. Alexander, and Wheeler on the Confederate side, and Generals Fitz John Porter, W. B. Franklin, W. F. Smith, Don Carlos Buell, Sigel, O. O. Howard, Lew Wallace, Cox, Merritt, J. H. Wilson, and Horace Porter on the Union side. The time of that publication was fortunately chosen. The work could hardly have been executed before by reason of the lingering discord VOL. LVII.-20.

between the North and the South, nor later because of the mortality of the officers who contributed.

The series on the Spanish war, of which we make an incomplete announcement in the advertising pages of the present number, will resemble the earlier work in aiming to present the chief events of the war as they appeared to the commanding officers and their lieutenants. Coming after considerable conflict of detail, and revealing much that is unknown or but vaguely guessed, the authoritativeness of these papers will be beyond question. And as the Civil War series revealed to the public the courage of the contestants on both sides, the new series cannot fail to show the gallantry of our late enemy, as well as to portray in permanent colors the deeds of the American navy and army, of which men of all opinions are proud.

Following closely upon Captain Sigsbee's narrative of the Maine will come Lieutenant Hobson's story of the Merrimac adventure. The