To Cuba and Back · Chapter
X explained
The narrator travels by steamer from Havana to Matanzas, observing the phosphorescent harbor at night.
What happens
The narrator travels by steamer from Havana to Matanzas, observing the phosphorescent harbor at night. Upon arrival, he explores Matanzas, noting its architecture and foreign influences. He obtains a letter of introduction to a sugar plantation, La Ariadne, and witnesses Coolies laboring under harsh conditions. He learns about the Coolie trade and hears the story of the poet and patriot Gabriel de la Concepcion Valdez (Placido), a mulatto executed for his role in a slave uprising.
Themes in this chapter
Economic Exploitation and Sugar Monoculture
The narrator's journey to Matanzas is motivated by the desire to see sugar plantations in operation, and the description of Coolie labor highlights the exploitative economic system.
Slavery and Racial Hierarchy
The treatment of Coolies and the story of Placido, a mulatto poet executed for leading a slave conspiracy, underscore racial hierarchies and oppression.
Colonial Oppression and Despotism
The execution of Placido by Spanish authorities and the discouragement of foreign influence in Matanzas reflect colonial control and repression.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Travels from Havana to Matanzas, observes the harbor, Coolies, and learns about the poet Placido.
- Coolies
Seen carrying stones under a taskmaster; described as thin and frail, with details about their import and labor conditions.
- Mr. ⸻
An American merchant in Matanzas who provides the narrator with a letter of introduction to Don Juan C⸺.
- The Young Captain
An intelligent shipmaster from New York who provides information about the Coolie trade.
- No Cuban
Gabriel de la Concepcion Valdez, also known as Placido, a mulatto poet and patriot executed in 1844 for leading a slave conspiracy.
Key passages
“The dark waters are alive with phosphorescent light. From each ship that lies moored, the cable from the bows, tautened to its anchor, makes a run of silver light.”
The dark harbor water glows with phosphorescence, and the anchor cables of moored ships appear as streaks of silver light.
Describes the luminous night scene in Havana harbor.
“If a Coolie is flogged, somebody must die; either the Coolie himself, for they are fearfully given to suicide, or the perpetrator of the indignity, or someone else, according to their strange principles of vicarious punishment.”
Flogging a Coolie leads to a death: either the Coolie's own suicide, the flogger's death, or someone else's, due to their belief in vicarious punishment.
Explains the Coolies' response to corporal punishment.
“At the first volley, as the story is told, he was only wounded. 'Aim here!' said he, pointing to his head. Another volley, and it was all over.”
After the first shots only wounded him, he pointed to his head and said 'Aim here!' The second volley killed him.
Describes the execution of poet Placido.