After all, these tropical regions lack the delicious freshness of the greensward, of new foliage, and the fine fragrance of the rural North; they need the invigorating sleep of the seasons from which to awake refreshed and blooming. Where vegetation is growing and decaying at the same time, there can never be general freshness and greenness; eternal summer lacks interest; we crave the frost as well as the sunshine. Compensation follows fast upon the heels of even a Northern winter. The tropical loveliness of the vegetation in this attractive land indicates what Cuba should be, but is not. Having accompanied the reader across many degrees of latitude, effecting a landing and reaching the interior of Cuba, let us now pass to other considerations of this interesting and important island. CHAPTER IV. The Great Genoese Pilot. -- Discovery of Cuba. -- Its Various Names. -- Treatment of the Natives. -- Tobacco! -- Flora of the Island. -- Strange Idols. -- Antiquity. -- Habits of the Aborigines. -- Remarkable Speech of an Indian King. -- A Native Entertainment. -- Paying Tribute. -- Ancient Remains. -- Wrong Impression of Columbus. -- First Attempt at Colonization. -- Battle with the Indians. -- First Governor of Cuba. -- Founding Cities. -- Emigration from Spain. -- Conquest of Mexico. The island of Cuba was discovered by the great Genoese pilot, on the 28th day of October, 1492. The continent of America was not discovered until six years later,--in 1498. The name of Columbus flashes a bright ray over the mental darkness of the period in which he lived, for the world was then but just awakening from the dull sleep of the Middle Ages. The discovery of printing heralded the new birth of the republic of letters, and maritime enterprise received a vigorous impulse. The shores of the Mediterranean, thoroughly explored and developed, had endowed the Italian States with extraordinary wealth, and built up a very respectable mercantile marine. The Portuguese mariners were venturing farther and farther from the peninsula, and traded with many distant ports on the extended coast of Africa.