The Climate of Cuba--Freedom from Extremes of Temperature--Influence of the Trade Winds--No Ice and Little Frost--The Rainy Season and the Dry Season--Gloomy Days Practically Unknown. CHAPTER IV. PROVINCE OF HAVANA.....21 The Province of Havana--The Pivotal Province of the Island--Visits by Columbus and Velasquez--Topography of the Province--Soil and Products--Agricultural Wealth--The Fruit Industry--Manufacturing--The Harbor of Havana--Transportation Facilities--The Water Supply--The Climate--The Seat of Government and Social Centre of the Island. CHAPTER V. PROVINCE OF PINAR DEL RIO.....34 The Province of Pinar del Rio--A Picturesque Region--Interesting Topography--The Organ Mountains--The Vinales Valley--A Rare Palm Tree--Hard Wood Timber--Agriculture--Harbors and Fishing Interests--Tobacco Lands of the Vuelta Abajo--Coffee Plantations--Mineral Resources. CHAPTER VI. PROVINCE OF MATANZAS.....49 The Province of Matanzas--Comparatively Unimportant in History--A Great Drainage and Traffic Canal--Rivers and Mountains--The Coast and Islands--The Henequen Industry--The City of Matanzas--The Caves of Bellamar--Sugar Production--Mineral Resources. CHAPTER VII. PROVINCE OF SANTA CLARA.....60 The Province of Santa Clara--A Land of Great Variety of Scenes--Ancient Gold-Seeking--The Mountain Ranges--Rich Lands of the Parks and Valleys--Rivers and Lakes--Harbors--Cities of the Province--The “Swamp of the Shoe”--Forests, Sugar Plantations, Tobacco, and Coffee--Opportunities for Stock Raising. CHAPTER VIII. PROVINCE OF CAMAGUEY.....71 The Province of Camaguey--Where Columbus First Landed--In the Days of Velasquez--Events of the Ten Years’ War--Topography of the Province--Mountain Ranges--Rivers and Coastal Lagoons--Harbors--Lack of Railroads--The Sugar Industry--Minerals--American Colonies--Some Noted Men. CHAPTER IX. PROVINCE OF ORIENTE.....83 The Province of Oriente--Area and Topography--Mountains and Rivers--Fine Harbors--Great Sugar Mills--Scene of the First Spanish Settlement in Cuba--The Bay of Guantanamo--Santiago de Cuba--Copper Mines--Manzanillo--The Cauto Valley--Sugar Plantations and Stock Ranches--Timber and Minerals--American Colonies. CHAPTER X. THE ISLE OF PINES.....99 The Isle of Pines--An Integral Part of Cuba--American Settlements and Claims--Character of the Island--Infertile and Storm Swept--Vast Deposits of Muck--Marble Quarries--Efforts to Promote Agricultural Interests. CHAPTER XI. MINES AND MINING.....104 Mines and Mining--The Early Quest of Gold--First Working of Copper Mines--The Wealth of El Cobre--Copper in All Parts of Cuba--Operations in Pinar del Rio--Vast Iron Deposits in Oriente--Nickel and Manganese--Exports of Ore--American Investigation of Chrome Deposits--Many Beds of Great Richness--Manganese and Chrome for All the World. CHAPTER XII. ASPHALT AND PETROLEUM.....126