To Cuba and Back

To Cuba and Back

The narrative follows a journey from New York to Cuba, detailing the experiences and observations of a traveler aboard the United States Mail Steamer Cahawba. The voyage begins on a cold February day in 1859, with a diverse group of passengers, including Cubans, merchants, and vacationers. The ship's departure is marked by a sense of anticipation as it navigates through the icy waters towards the warmer climate of Cuba. As the ship crosses the Gulf Stream, the weather improves, and the passengers begin to recover from seasickness. The traveler reflects on the differences between the passengers, noting the frail health of some Cubans and the industrious nature of American merchants. The journey is filled with moments of camaraderie and conversation, particularly with the ship's captain, who shares insights about life in the navy and the challenges faced by officers. Upon arrival in Cuba, the traveler is struck by the vibrant culture and the stark contrasts between the lives of the wealthy and the impoverished. The bustling streets of Havana are filled with unique vehicles, colorful markets, and a mix of people from various backgrounds. The traveler explores the city, visiting notable landmarks, engaging with locals, and experiencing the local cuisine, which includes fresh fruits and traditional dishes. The narrative delves into the complexities of Cuban society, particularly the institution of slavery and the treatment of Coolies, Chinese laborers brought to the island. The traveler visits sugar plantations, witnessing the labor-intensive process of sugar production and the harsh realities faced by enslaved individuals. The descriptions highlight the economic importance of sugar to Cuba and the moral implications of slavery. Throughout the journey, the traveler grapples with the political climate of Cuba, reflecting on the oppressive nature of Spanish rule and the aspirations of the Cuban people for self-governance. Conversations with locals reveal a desire for change, as well as fears regarding the potential annexation of Cuba by the United States. The narrative concludes with a return to Havana, where the traveler reflects on the experiences gained during the journey. The observations made throughout the trip provide a rich tapestry of life in Cuba, capturing the beauty, struggles, and complexities of a society on the brink of change. The work serves as both a travelogue and a commentary on the social and political issues of the time, offering insights into the lives of those who inhabit the island.

By Richard Henry Dana, Jr. · First published 1859 · Genre: Travel Literature, Memoir, Historical Non-Fiction · 25 chapters · 60,164 words

First lines

Saturday, the twelfth day of February, 1859, is a dull, dark day in New York, with visitations of snow squalls, as the United States Mail Steamer Cahawba swings at her pier, at the foot of Robinson Street -- a pier crowded with drays and drivers, and a street of mud, snow and ice, and poor habitations. The steamer is to sail at one p.m.; and, by half-past twelve, her decks are full, and the mud and snow of the pier are well trodden by men and horses. Coaches drive down furiously, and nervous passengers put their heads out to see if the steamer is off before her time; and on the decks, and in the gangways, inexperienced passengers run against everybody, and mistake the engineer for the steward, and come up the same stairs they go down, without knowing it. In the dreary snow, the newspaper vendors cry the papers, and the book vendors thrust yellow covers into your face -- "Reading for the voyage, sir -- five hundred pages, close print! " And that being rejected, they reverse the process of the Sibyl -- with "Here's another, sir, one thousand pages, double columns. " The great beam of the engine moves slowly up and down, and the black hull sways at its fasts. A motley group are the passengers. Shivering Cubans, exotics that have taken slight root in the hothouses of the Fifth Avenue, are to brave a few days of sleet and cold at sea, for the palm trees and mangoes, the cocoas and orange trees, they will be sitting under in six days, at farthest. There are Yankee shipmasters going out to join their "cotton wagons" at New Orleans and Mobile, merchants pursuing a commerce that knows no rest and no locality: confirmed invalids advised to go to Cuba to die under mosquito nets and be buried in a Potter's Field; and other invalids wisely enough avoiding our March winds; and here and there a mere vacation-maker, like myself.

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To Cuba and Back is listed on Textopian as a novel by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., dated 1859 CE.

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Travelogue · Memoir · Adventure · Exploration · Cuba · 19th Century · American Literature · Historical Nonfiction · Maritime History · Sailing · Journalism · Autobiography

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