Cuba

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Cuba, That is, the greatest of the Antilles in the Northern Sea, is about 230 Leagues in length, 40 in the broadest parts, and fifteen in the narrowest. Its Soil is very fruitfull, and the Air better than at Hispaniola. It's divided by a Ridge of Mountains, whence a great number of small Rivers spring that are all very well stock'd with Fishes called Lisa's and Sabella's, that is, Barbel and Shad. Their Forests are full of Cedar-trees of an extraordinary height and bigness, which the Inhabitants make Canou's of, that is, Boats made of the Bodies only, hewed and worked, that can hold above fifty Men. There are also Wild Vines that bear a great quantity of sowre Grapes, because they are not looked after. The Caninga that grows there is a Tree whereof the Bark has the taste of Cinnamon; it is made use of to season and spice Meat, and for a Remedy as Cassia. Their Pasture feeds a great number of Cattle. On the Southern side are a great many Islands, which the Spaniards call Jardin de lay Reyna, where there are Sea Tortoises so strong and big that they can walk with five Men upon their Backs. This Island is very rich in Metals; for there are several Rivers in it that have very fine Gold. It was formerly divided into several Provinces, whereof each had its particular Cacique or Primaviz, Mayzi, Bayamo, Cucyba, Camagueya, Macacam, Xagua, Uhima. The River Cueyte is very remarkable for the great number of Crocodiles it nourishes. The ancientest of its Towns is St. Jago or St. James, which was built in 1514. At the end of one of the best and greatest Ports in America it has a Cathedral, whereof the Bishop is suffragan of the Archbishop of St. Jago, and has very many and good Brass-mines at three Leagues distance. The Town of San-Salvador, in the Province of Bayamo, is thirty Leagues from the Town of St. Jacques, in a very fertil and pleasant Country. In the Road betwixt San-Salvador and San-Jago are a great quantity of Flint-stones of different sizes, but all so round that they might serve for Cannon-bullets. The strongest Town is Havana, whose Port is famous both for its good and safe Anchorage, as also for the two Castles capable to stop the greatest Fleet in the World. The Town is also defended with a very well fortified Castle, and so opposed to Ships that draw near the Port, that it can batter them behind, whilst the other two batter on both sides. All the Spanish Fleets that come from the firm Land, from Southern America, new Spain and the Islands, anchor here for Fresh-water and Refreshments; and in the Month of September they get by the Streights of Bahama into the Northern Sea, and thence into Spain. The Governour of the Island and the other Royal Officers keep their Residence here, it being one of the richest and best Towns in America, both for its Port and great Commerce. There are also six Boroughs or Habitations of Christians, St. Jacques, Barcacoa, Bayamo, the Port of Princes, the Holy-Ghost, and the Havana. Each Village has thirty or forty Families, besides St. Jacques and Havana, that have each about eighty Houses; yet there are but few Slaves, many having hanged themselves to be rid of the Miseries they underwent in Mines. There goes a Story on this Subject, viz. That Seigneur Vasco Porcalhos, Steward to one of the chief Inhabitants, understanding that the Indians who were under his Command, had all agreed to hang themselves, went to meet them with a Cord in his hand at the place they intended to execute the Design. As soon as he saw them come, he walked towards them, and said they were Fools to think he was not aware of all their Designs; that he well knew what they were then about, and therefore was come to hang himself a-long with them, to plague them in the other World a thousand times more than he did in this. This Discourse made the Indians change their Resolution, and come back a-long with him, to obey all his Orders. Histoire de Floride.