History of Cuba; or, Notes of a Traveller in the Tropics Being a Political, Historical, and Statistical Account of the Island, from its First Discovery to the Present Time

CHAPTER X.

Chapter 963 wordsPublic domain

The volante and its belongings--The ancient town of Regla--The arena for the bull-fights at Havana--A bull-fight as witnessed by the author at Regla--A national passion with the Spanish people--Compared with old Roman sports--Famous bull-fighters--Personal description of Cuban ladies--Description of the men--Romance and the tropics--The nobility of Cuba--Sugar noblemen--The grades of society--The yeomanry of the island--Their social position--What they might be--Love of gambling, 131