S

u V wxyz vwxyz a

S t u V W xyzab

tuv

W xyza b c st u V W X Y Z abcd

t u V W xy Ꮓ abcde W X Y Z a bcdef

V

V W

hik

a bcde fghikl

no

q

r

S

n opqr

Any word is now taken for a key; Paris, for example. This is a short word, and, for the sake of secrecy, it would be well to choose for the key some one or more words less striking. Suppose we wish to write in this cipher, with this key, the phrase "We lost a battle;" we must write Paris over the phrase, repeating it as often as is necessary, thus::

Paris Paris Par We lost a battle. We now take, as a cipher for w, the letter which we find in the square opposite w in the left marginal column, and under p on the top, which is m. Instead of e, we take the letter opposite e and under a, which is f; for l, the letter opposite and under r, and so on. Proceeding thus, we should obtain the following series of let

u V W

V W X

S t u V W x y

n 0 pq r S t u VW x y z

meets m, opposite to which, in the left marginal column, he finds w. Next, going in the line of a down to ƒ, he finds on the left e. In the same way, r gives l, i gives o, and so on. Or you may reverse the process; begin with p, in the left marginal column, and look along horizontally till you find m, over which, in the top line, you will find w. It is easily seen, that the same letter is not always designated by the same cipher; thus, e and a occur twice in the phrase selected, and they are designated respectively by the ciphers f and w, b and k. Thus the possibility of finding out the secret writing is almost excluded. The key may be changed from time to time, and a different key may be used with each correspondent. The utmost accuracy is necessary, because one character, accidentally omitted, changes the whole cipher. The correspondent, however, may ascertain this with considerable trouble. (See Deciphering.)

CUBA; the largest and most westerly of the Antilles. Its configuration, extent, geographical position, great number of ports, fertility and climate, contribute to

render it one of the most interesting countries of America. Its length, from cape St. Antonio to point Maisi, in a direction from W. S. W. to E. N. E., and then from W. N. W. to E. S. E., is 257 leagues, and its greatest width, in the direction north to south, is 38 leagues. The learned geographer don Felipe Bausa calculated, in June, 1825, that the surface of Cuba contained 3615 square marine leagues (20 to a degree). Cuba is situated between lon. 73° 56 and 85° W. and between lat. 19° 48′ 30 and 23° 12′ 45′′ N. It lies 14 leagues west from cape Nicolas, in the island of St. Domingo, 34 south from point Morant, in Jamaica, 27 east from cape Catoche, and 37 south from cape Florida. The gulf of Mexico, which is very nearly of a circular form, of more than 250 leagues in circumference, is closed by the island of Cuba, with the exception of two narrow passages, the one to the south, between cape Catoche and cape St. Antonio, and the other to the north, between Bahia Honda and the Florida ahoals. Along the coast of Cuba are many keys and small islands, which are included in the same government with the large island. The navigation of the coast is very unsafe on account of the rocks and shoals which encompass it almost without interruption, and often extend from 2 to 3 miles into the sea. The broken outline of this vast extent of coast, however, affords more than 50 ports and anchoring places, which are equally safe and easy of access. The most remarkable, in a commercial point of view, are those of Havanna, Matanzas, Nuevitas, Jibara and Baracoa, on the north; St. Jago, Manzanillo, Trinidad, Jagua and Batabano, on the south side of the island. There is. another port between Manzanillo and Trinidad, called Santa Cruz, which, in February, 1829, was declared a free port, and which, undoubtedly, will be much frequented, furnishing great facilities for trading with Puerto Principe (the second city in Cuba in point of population), being the only good harbor in its vicinity on the south side of the island, and distant from it but 20 leagues. The harbors of Bahia Honda, Nipe, Naranjo and Guantanamo also deserve to be mentioned, as they are very spacious, and have plenty of water for such large vessels as may be in want of a safe port. A ridge of mountains traverses the whole of the island, from the east to the west, dividing it into two parts. At the foot of these, the country opens into extensive savannas. A considcrable number of small streams from

these heights water the island on both sides. These streams abound in fish of different kinds, and are said to bring down considerable quantities of gold. There are likewise many salt ponds, which furnish abundance of fish and game; also several springs of mineral water, which havo proved very useful for the cure of many diseases. The most remarkable are those of St. Diego, 40 leagues west of Havanna; those of Madruga, 14 leagues S. W of the said city; those of the town of Guanabacoa; and those of Camugiro, 14 league from Puerto Principe. Those of St. Diego are the only ones which have been analysed. They consist of two wells (Tigre and Templado), and, according to the analysis of señor Esteves, a pound of the water contains 0.46 graine of sulphureted hydrogen gas, 10.5 of sulphate of lime, 1.0 of hydrochlorate of magnesia, and one grain of carbonate of magnesia. They are particularly useful in cases of scrofula, cutaneous diseases, &c. The island is very rich in minerals, particularly in copper, iron and loadstone. In 1813, some persons endeavored to work a mine which they found near the city of Trinidad, and from which they obtained good gold and silver. They were, however, obliged, from want of funds, to desist, though it was highly probable that, with a sufficient capital, it could have been made profitable. For the same reason, together with the want of protection from the government, a very rich mine of coal, which was opened in 1816, near Bacuranáo, was abandoned. In 1827, a silver mine was discovered, yielding 7.5 of pure silver to a quintal of ore. Iron seems to be abundant, as it shows itself in parts of the great cordillera of Sierra Maestra. Loadstone is found in the mountains of Paragua and on the northern coast. Marbles of various kinds, serpentine, chalcedony of excellent quality, quartz, mineral bitumen, &c., are likewise found in the island. Our knowledge of the geological and mineralogical structure of Cuba, however, is comparatively small, on account of the thickness of the forests and the asperity of the mountains, particularly on the eastern part. Most that we know on this subject is derived from the researches of Alexander von Humboldt. The soil of Cuba is so productive that it yields two, and even three crops of corn in a year. The fields, dur ing the whole year, are covered with aro matic plants and trees in blossom. The climate is dry and warm. In the inonths of July and August. the thermometer

ranges from 28° to 29° Réaumur (95° to 07° Fahrenheit), and in those of December and January, which are the coldest, commonly between 17° and 21° of Réaumur (70° and 79° Fahrenheit.) It never freezes, not even on the highest mountains. The coasts of the island are well known to be unhealthy; but this is not the case with the mountains. Among the animals indigenous in the island or the surrounding sea, are the cayman or alligator (q. v.), the manati or sea cow, the iguana (a species of lizard), the turtle, &c. Many of the domestic animals of Europe have been introduced. A great number of swine, and also of bees, are raised. Lately, the breeding of mules has been carried on to a considerable extent. Birds are numerous in the forests. Among them are the canary-bird, the linnet, also a bird resembling the nightingale, the cardinal gross-beak, the bunting, &c. The rivers, though they have but a short course, and are deficient in water, abound, at certain seasons, with excellent fish. Reptiles are extremely numerous. Among the insects, of which there are very many, are the mosquitoes, verdaderamente una plaga que infesta los cayos, costas y terrenos pantanosos, to use the words of the Cuadro Estadistico mentioned below. They are divided into different species-mosquito proper, coraci, zancudo, rodador, jagüey and lancetero. In the rainy season, they follow men and beasts into the interior of the island. The gregen, which is almost invisible, is exceedingly numerous and very troublesome. Among the spiders, the peluda is the most disagreeable in appearance, and its bite produces fever, yet without danger to life. There are other kinds particularly troublesome to particular animals. The vegetable kingdom of Cuba is extremely rich. Here are to be found the mahogany-tree, the cedar, lignum-vitæ, various kinds of ebony, besides numerous woods suitable for building houses, ships, &c.; also palm-trees, among which the palma real is remarkable for the utility of every part to man and various animals; sarsaparilla and many other plants useful in medicine; also the chestnut, the pine-apple, the annona or custard-apple, the medlar, plantain, orange, and various kinds of melons. Among the agricultural plants, maize is the most important; rice, beans, peas, garbanzos are also cultivated. The culture of wheat is abandoned. The true riches of the country consist in its great articles of export-sugar, coffee, tobacco, wax. cacao, molasses, rum, maize,

&c. According to a very recent and complete official publication-Cuadro Estadistico de la siempre fiel Isla de Cuba correspondiente al año de 1827, formado por una Comission de Gefes y Oficiales de orden y bajo de la Direccion del Excelsmo. Sr. Capitan General D. Fr. Dionisio Vives, Habana, 1829-the export of sugar, in 1827, was 5,878,9244 arrobas (an arroba is equal to 25 pounds), or, including tare, &c., 6,300,000 arrobas. The whole amount produced was 8,091,837 arrobas; consumed on the island, 1,791,837. Of coffee, the export, in the same year, was 2,001,583 arrobas, and the amount consumed in the island, 881,9443. Of tobacco, the amounts have not been so well ascertained. This article pays a duty of six per cent. to the king (ordinance of Oct. 8, 1827). In 1827, there were exported 61,898 cargas, or about 500,000 arrobas, of which 79,1061 were en rama (in the leaf). Of wax, the export, in 1827, was 22,402 arrobas; the whole production, 63,160. Of cotton, the export, in the same year, was 23,414 arrobas; whole quantity raised, 38,142. Of cacao, the export was only 1953 arrobas, while the whole quantity raised was 23,806 arrobas. Indigo began to be cultivated in 1795, but little has as yet been raised-in 1827, only 56 arrobas-and of wheat only 120 arrobas. The export of molasses, in 1827, was 74,083 bocoyes (hogsheads); of rum (aguardiente de caña), 2457 pipes. Rice is raised in large quantity, but not enough to supply the great home consumption. In 1827, 520,897 arrobas were produced on the island, and 590,820 arrobas imported. Of maize, 1,617,806 fanegas were raised (a fanega is about 100 pounds), and yet there were imported 70,497 arrobas of the corn, and 4,952 barrels of the meal. Of beans (frijolles), there were produced, in 1827, 134,185 arrobas, and imported, 58,4184. Notwithstanding this great production, it is believed that only a seventh part of all the land suitable for cultivation is actually brought into use. The commerce of the country has increased lately very much. The island enjoys great privileges in comparison with other countries under the yoke of Spain. The trade of Cuba is carried on chiefly through Havanna, the capital. There have been times when the exports of the island amounted to $12,000,000, and its imports were over $15,000,000. In the year 1827, 17,352,854 dollars' worth of merchandise was imported, and 3,561,887 dollars' worth exported, making the consumption

police is weak or inactive: murders are frequent. The laws are very numerous and contradictory, and much bribery and corruption prevail in the administration of justice. In 1821, the importation of slaves was prohibited by law; and, though it is yet carried on, and tolerated by the authorities of Cuba, in spite of the laws against it, there is no doubt that it has diminished a great deal, in consequence of the efforts and vigilance of the English cruisers. The emancipation of Colombia, Mexico, and the Spanish part of St. Domingo, has brought to Cuba almost all the Spaniards who were settled in those countries, together with many of the Creoles. The number of the aboriginal population cannot now be ascertained. The European and African population, in 1511, did not include more than 300 persons. Within the last 52 years, the population has more than quadrupled: the colored population has increased faster than the white. According to the census of 1827, given in the Spanish report mentioned above, the population then stood thus:

Males. Females. Total.

Whites,.. 168,653 142,398 311,051 Free Mulattoes, 28,058 29,456 57,514 Free Negroes,. 23,904 250,76 48,980 Mulatto and 183,290 103,652 286,942 Negro slaves, Grand total, 704,487 of which 311,051 are white, and 393,436 are colored.

It is generally believed, that the inhabitants are not desirous of separating from the Spanish government, partly because Spain treats them tolerably well, and partly because of the distracted condition in which they behold those parts of Spanish America which have shaken off the Spanish yoke. A conspiracy was discovered, however, in 1830, the object of which was the independence of the island. A ridiculous expedition was sent from Cuba, in 1829, against Mexico, under general Barradas, who was forced to capitulate at Tampico, on September 11 of that year. The principal cities of the island are the capital, Havanna (siempre fidelisima ciudad de S. Cristobal de la Habana), with 237,828 inhabitants, St. Jago de Cuba, St. Salvador, St. Carlos de Matanzas, St. Maria de Puerto Principe, &c. (See these articles.)--For further information respecting the island, the reader is referred to Humboldt's Personal Narrative, and the Cuadro Estadistico already mentioned.

Cuba was discovered, in 1492, by Christopher Columbus. In 1511, don

Diego Velasquez sailed from St. Domingo, with four vessels and about 300 men, for the conquest of the island. He landed, on the 25th of July, near the bay of St. Jago, to which he gave its name. The natives, coinmanded by the cacique Hatuey, who had fled from St. Domingo, his native country, on account of the cruelties of the Spaniards, in vain endeavored to oppose the progress of the invaders. The noise of the fire-arms was sufficient to disperse the poor Indians. Hatuey was taken prisoner and condemned to be burned alive, which sentence was executed after he had refused to be baptized. This diabolical act filled all the other caciques with terror, and they hastened to pay homage to Velasquez, who met with no more opposition. The conquest of Cuba did not cost the Spaniards a single man. The conquerors, not finding the mines sufficiently rich to induce them to work them, gradually exterminated the natives, whom they could not employ. After the conquest of Cuba, more than two centuries elapsed without the occurrence of any memorable incident. In 1741, the English admiral Vernon sailed, in July, from Jamaica, and entered the bay of Guantanamo, which he named Cumberland. He landed his troops 20 miles up the river, where they remained in perfect inaction until November, when they went back to Jamaica. Notwithstanding the disastrous termination of this expedition, the English government did not relinquish the idea of taking possession of Cuba. In 1762, they sent from England a formidable expedition, which, after its junction with the naval force which had been already serving in the West Indies, consisted of 19 ships of the line, 18 small vessels of war, and 150 transports, which conveyed 12,000 troops. The whole of the fleet appeared off Havanna June 6. 4000 more troops went from North America, in July, to reënforce them. The Spaniards used every effort to defend the city. The English were several times repelled, but at last the Spaniards surrendered, August 13. The booty obtained by the English was great. About three millions of dollars in specie, and a large quantity of goods, fell into their hands, besides a great quantity of munitions of war, 9 ships of the line, and 4 frigates. In 1763, the conquerors, notwithstanding the high opinion that they had of the importance of Cuba, restored it to Spain, in exchange for the Floridas. Since then, Cuba has been a Spanish island, and has been so well fortified, that it is now not in much danger from