Introduction of Sugar-Cane. -- Sugar Plantations. -- Mode of Manufacture. -- Slaves on the Plantations. -- African Amusements. -- The Grinding Season. -- The Coffee Plantations. -- A Floral Paradise. -- Refugees from San Domingo. -- Interesting Experiments with a Mimosa. -- Three Staple Productions of Cuba. -- Raising Coffee and Tobacco. -- Best Soils for the Tobacco. -- Agricultural Possibilities. -- The Cuban Fire-Fly. -- A Much-Dreaded Insect. -- The Ceiba Tree. -- About Horses and Oxen. 236 CHAPTER XIV. Consumption of Tobacco. -- The Delicious Fruits of the Tropics. -- Individual Characteristics of Cuban Fruits. -- The Royal Palm. -- The Mulberry Tree. -- Silk Culture. -- The Island once covered by Forests. -- No Poisonous Reptiles. -- The Cuban Bloodhound. -- Hotbed of African Slavery. -- Spain's Disregard of Solemn Treaties. -- The Coolie System of Slavery. -- Ah-Lee draws a Prize. -- Native African Races. -- Negroes buying their Freedom. -- Laws favoring the Slaves. -- Example of San Domingo. -- General Emancipation. 260 CHAPTER XV. Slave Trade with Africa. -- Where the Slavers made their Landing. -- An Early Morning Ride. -- Slaves marching to Daily Labor. -- Fragrance of the Early Day. -- Mist upon the Waters. -- A Slave Ship. -- A Beautiful but Guilty Brigantine. -- A French Cruiser. -- Cunning Seamanship. -- A Wild Goose Chase. -- A Cuban Posada. -- Visit to a Coffee Estate. -- Landing a Slave Cargo. -- A Sight to challenge Sympathy and Indignation. -- Half-Starved Victims. -- Destruction of the Slave Ship. 282 CHAPTER XVI. Antique Appearance of Everything. -- The Yeomen of Cuba. -- A Montero's Home. -- Personal Experience. -- The Soil of the Island. -- Oppression by the Government. -- Spanish Justice in Havana. -- Tax upon the Necessities of Life. -- The Proposed Treaty with Spain. -- A One-Sided Proposition. -- A Much Taxed People. -- Some of the Items of Taxation. -- Fraud and Bankruptcy. -- The Boasted Strength of Moro Castle. -- Destiny of Cuba. -- A Heavy Annual Cost to Spain. -- Political Condition. -- Pictures of Memory. 300 DUE SOUTH. CHAPTER I.