THE PEARL OF THE

ANTILLES

OR

AN ARTIST IN CUBA

BY

WALTER GOODMAN

Henry S. King & Co.65 Cornhill & 12 Paternoster Row, London1873

(All rights reserved)

TO

MY TRAVELLING-COMPANION AND BROTHER-ARTIST

SEÑOR DON JOAQUIN CUADRAS

OF CUBA

THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED

IN REMEMBRANCE OF OUR LONG AND UNINTERRUPTED FRIENDSHIP

AT HOME AND ABROAD

PREFACE.

Cuba having lately become a prominent object of attention,both to Europe and America, I venture to think thatany trustworthy information that can be given respectingit, may prove acceptable to the reader. I approach mytask with no great pretensions, but yet with an experienceacquired by many years' residence in the Island, and anintimate intercourse with its inhabitants. I arrived therein 1864, when Cuba was enjoying uninterrupted peace andprosperity, and my departure took place in the first yearof her adversity. Having thus viewed society in the Islandunder the most opposite conditions, I have had variousand ample opportunities of studying its institutions, itsraces and its government; and in availing myself of theseopportunities I have endeavoured, as far as possible, toavoid those matters which are alike common to life inSpain and in Cuba.

As I write, Cuba is passing through a great crisis in herhistory. For this reason my experiences may prove moreinteresting than they might otherwise have done; nor doI think that they will be found less attractive, because ithas been my choice to deal with the subject before mefrom the point of view rather of an artist than of a travelleror a statistician.

Perhaps I may be allowed to add, that the matter containedin these pages will be almost entirely fresh to thereader; for, although I have included a few papers whichI have from time to time contributed to All the YearRound, Cassell's Magazine, and London Society, I havetaken care to introduce them in such a manner as not tobreak the continuity with which I have endeavoured toconnect the various parts of my subject.

In explanation of the title chosen for this volume,I may remark that 'the Pearl of the Antilles' is one of theprettiest in that long series of eulogistic and endearingtitles conferred by poets and others on the Island of Cuba,which includes 'the Queen of the Antilles,' 'the Jewelin the Spanish Crown,' 'the Promised Land,' 'the SummerIsle of Eden,' 'the Garden of the West,' and 'the Loyaland Ever-faithful Isle.'

Walter Goodman.

22 Lancaster Road,
Westbourne Park,
London: 1873.

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