THE TRIBUNE.

LETTERS FROM HAVANA. L.
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miles to the South East lis chain of hills stretched
away in the glinmer Of the morning. and as felt
the sof, balmy breath OF thousand changing cur
rents OF air, each bringing some odor FROM as
many gardens, beautifully laid out on the sleping
land, ] thought there could not be another such
Edenspot in the world There are two chains of
hills running nearly the whole length OF The Island,
one near the Gulf shore, the other az the distance
Of several miles in the interior, but the first only
are visible. You see little or no forest crownins
their SIDES or SUBMITS, and but little Of shrub or
orchard, but on the very top OF the ridge, row Of
palms and ccdars Of Lebanon wave their green
arms 10 the breeze, as 1t were ;he spirits OF the
Island bidding you welcome. Here and there
palaces peer Out amid foliage, and then castle,
gTm with the forms oi war, shakes lta red and vel
low fig 10 your VISION, Ia defiance of every foe
The Gulf is without soandngs and the surf daslcs
continually against the rocky shore terrible 10 the
ship or boat that might tempt It, as the proudes,
ai-buiit bstilement. The first impression that
seizes yon, after your admiratlun OF The coudless
mornIng and the glorious palms, is the strength,
natural and artificial, by which Cuba is grt. Nor
is this impression essened by the sight of The Moro,
and Cabanes Fort. The Moro Castle, which


hope 20 visit and more mlnutely describe, stands
on d rock from thirty TO fifty feet IN hight on the
very shore OF the Cult at the lett hand as you en-
ter the harbor OF Havana. From It's top waves
the Spanish flag, and several signals depend from
one of lis towers, while every side brstles with
Cannon and bayonets. From this all vessels are
hailed, and by this, II they go beyond bound, they
are hurled into wreck. Immediately in the rear
of the Moro, which Is the old castle, rises or IA
ther stretches out The new Cabahas Fort, erected
al an expense of So, ,000,000, and garrsoned with
over $500 troops On the right of the mouth Of
the hafbor, are lesser, but still formidable deien-
ces running back, forming what serves for bat
tery and promenade, until II reach the Mole, where
II ceases, aad there vessels begin their anchorage
Ships OF many nations are always, as now, in the
harbor, and innumerable gondola-looking boats
line the side OF the Mole, offering under their
cool awnings pleasant ride Tor two shings, 10
any part OF the bay. Spanish, French, English
aud American eusgns were floating from their
respective crafts as we entered, but the prcdoml.
nance, excepting Spanish OF course, belongs To our
flag There lay the Boston packet, the Jersey |
schooner, the Nantucket sloop, the New. York brig
and the Orleans cutter, buoyant and far as the |
coors AT their peaks, and II made the blood quicker
about my heart 10 see such representatives OF the |
industry and adventure OF my pctiVe land On.y
Two vessels of war are now III port, Spanish ship
and French brig. vet the American and English
merchantmen ride the wave az hauShtlly as though
they were mailed with steel. The Spanish most
heartily hate the Englsh hate their Interference
with Slavery, with any OF their tme-won Gus
toms; the Americans they esteem more, bu: the
French they love beet OF all An old Spanish law
forbade any vessel entering Havana except II be-
longed TO Span; that law has never been repealed





tons and the DoDs, who have not lost the jealousy
and hauchtiness of their ancestors, would lam re.
yiye il to-day They even say SO, and only iaii
because Spain Ike wounded warrior, lies on her
bed oi death. Were not SPAN the SPORT ihe 10Y
of England and France, either OF whom may To-
morrow give her new monarch, no snip ol tneltS
could pass the Moro-such is the real Spanish feel
lug.


A large crowd of reople were gathered on the
Mole uuder The sheds and awnings, To scan HE
| sd
whit, pant.,oons and musIachios, which are two
articles most common IN Havana. | can haloiv
tell YOU now the appearance OF the ci'y impressed
me IL is so entirely different from any thing nave
ever seen, except IN my iancies oi oriental ccuh-
rreS--its streets arc so narrow, scarcely twenty
feet wide, aud It's buildings so fantastic IN shape
and color. that must leave the picture 10 your
imagination IN measure. The buildings are pfln-
cipally very low, from one TO three stores hisn,
and there are Jew OF the latter class. and there Is
such a bendlug of light yellow with stil hshter
blue and so many little cupoas, domes, iIet-works
aud other ornaments about the tops ana SIDES thai
the city looks from the bay like succession OF
mosques aud temples, with here ana ulefe u paihi
or cedar peetng up, giving the place an cir ct ro-
nance and beauty, delightful as II Is novel -
we landed amid the holy -days-ndeed ltwontd be
hard 10 land al any other ume-as an to!a they
commence Christmas festivities about the 2iSt OF
December and there is little orno cessation until 'he
25h of March The day before we landed was Goou
Fndav and the cannon we heard on the Guii were
fired IN commemoration OF the Resurrection oi
Christ as j, is the custem 10 cruelty ana ralse MN
every wear The day after We landed beng sun
day, the body Of Christ was carried IN high mass
through the streets by the Bishop, early III Tie
morning, followed by host OF people, and The Ger,
emouieS were ended at the great Cathedral; mac
been told That no business was transacted during
holv-davs especially IN paSSion-week, but founo
thai these DAYS the sayest OF the year all The
.hons being open and every one busy and merry.
Ths. Spanish Catholics who reason very hule be-
yond gelpng absolutlon. use religion very senSioS
10 advance their enloymenis 1he Oapatn oi our
shin related 10 me some OF the customs o lhe holy
days among which is the whipping OF Judas Ger
tam Snauiards 20 on board all the vessels IN the
haJhor and cross the wards; ihey laen iiaHe az
in,sge of straw, Ia Judas. which they atach 10 a
rcss and run j, up and dows from the yard arm,
Will. others stand by and beat II with ciuos ano
set fierce dogs upon IL; then drag II aoou' 'ns
streets unul The crowd get iEto petiect 'uly MY
so they punish the betrnyer We may lansh al Suen
kinds OF zeal. but have often thought ignorant
people better of with supersti;ons and indulsences
of this SORT than with no religion NJ all. Il great
many people 20 into the country during these iasi
days and those who remain make themselves
comfortable and jolly. The hotel where | am
s,nnp,ns. The National. kept by Don Martin, is
on one OF The prncipai streets, and is very good,
,bonqh confess hotels here are net ike our
own by long shot IN the inst place houses have
no windows. excepting very few SHOPS; The floors
are of cement without covering generally anc
vorr hsd ;s hard mat or else simply Sacklps
hung about with muslin screens 10 Keep on the IN
f.rnsl mosoujtoes They give you enly two meals
''i, Sav brsskfsst at and dinner at s. without
luaches OF any kind, and as yet have not ssen see,
particle OF frat preserves or passfy oa VI, ha,,
You have SSH very delIgh,iul-beet, mutton, hatl'
nee, salad, oil and hot cakes, with Catsopai,s VINE;
clarel aud coffee this constitutes the e8isoieS. au
for this YOU mus, pay from ten shillipss 10 three
dollars per day The absence OF trnI. IS arioae ~;
10 the hurricane and SO they excuse every thins
they have no, got. They have excellent potatoes,
and you may procure APPLES and oranges II You oSl
will 90 10 the marke, yourself, Fair oranges seu
ssix and eight cents each, and other fruits IN pro
portion To one who has been teas,ed upon lhe
delicacies OF Orleans, this fare seems measre aha
poor ba, liItle time in this climate destroys ohs
appetite, so tha, il may be best after all Very ~;
lie strong liquor is used. excep, by sailors, ana
have not seen Spaniard or negro intoxicated
Wine and soda are used by the NATIVES more Than
and ice sells nj sly canfs or half ral pound. Az