The soil of Puerto Rico is of the richest and most varied descrip tion : there is the deep rich soil required for the cultivation of the sugar-cane, the cool mountain valley for the coffee plantation, the meet luxuriant pasture, the moist spot favourable for tho cocoa-nut and the irrigated rice fields. The pasture-landa are principally on the north and east coasts; the cane-fields on the south and west. About one-fifteenth of the land is under cultivation, and upwards of 400,000 cwts. of sugar are annually produced ; also very large quan tities of coffee, maize, tobacco, rice, and some cotton. The proportion of sugar obtained from an acre is mnch greater than in either of the other West India islands. A largo number of bead of horned cattle are reared for exportation as well as for home consumption.
The island possesses no indigenous quadrupeds, scarcely any birds except a few species of water-fowl and some parrots, and no monkeys. The cane-fields are infested by rate of a large size, which at times commit great ravages.
There are no manufactures in Puerto Rico beyond those of the ruder articles of daily use. Nor have mining operations engaged much attention, though gold, iron, copper, lead, and coal are said to have been met with.
The commerce of Puerto Rico is very considerable, the exports having an average annual value of upwards of 5,000,000 dollars, the imports about 4,500,000 dollars. The principal exports are of sugar, molasses, and rum ; coffee ; cattle, and hider ; cotton ; tobacco, and cigars ; timber and dye-wood; and indigo. The larger part of the commerce is carried on with Spain and the United States; but England, France, Denmark, and Germany share in it to a considerable extent. A heavy ad valorem duty is imposed on the importation of foreign goods; the consequence of which is an extensive contraband trade with St.. Thomas's and other islands. The trade with America consists in salt-fish, grain, flour, butter, and lumber ; with France, in linens, cambrics, ornaments, toys, and jewellery; with England, cotton goods, hardware, and earthenware : England takes a great quantity of cattle for the supply of her colonies; with Spain, olives, brandies, wines, dried fruits, anchovies, &c.; with the German States, in glass, sword-blades, linens, hams, &c.
Puerto Rico was discovered by Columbus in 1493. Tho natives submitted quietly to the Spaniards for some time, but at length rose and slaughtered many of them. On this the Spaniards exterminated the greater part of the natives, and the remainder have become so intermixed with the conquerors, that there is no mark of distinction between the races. The present inhabitants are composed of whites, who are somewhat more than half; and free mulattoes, who are somewhat more than one-fourth of the entire population ; the remainder aro negroes, about two-thirds of whom are slaves. It is
remarkable that in Puerto Rico white and black persons work together in the fields at the same labour without any feeling of degradation on the part of the former; and there is said to be none of the antipathy manifested here between the races which is so common iu the United States and elsewhere.
The government of Puerto Rico is administered by a captain general, who has the supreme military command, but his civil authority is in some degree controlled by an officer who is called his legal adviser. A court of royal audience is invested with the superin tendence of all other authorities, and is consulted by the governor on all important occasions. Two courts of cabildo superintend the police and municipal affairs. In each of the seven towns and villages which form the head of a department, a migistrato resides called the alcalde mayor. In the smaller towns there are inferior magistrates, who are annually appointed by the captain-general. The ecclesiastical tribunal is composed of the bishop and provisor. A naval tribunal is presided over by the commandant of the marine; and a consulado is established for the decision of all mercantile disputes.
The island contains 58 towns and villages. San Juan de Puerto Rico, the capital, is situated on the north aide of the island, in lir 29'N. let, 66' 10' W. long.; population about 20,000. San Juan is built on a narrow island about 2 miles in length, which is connected at one end with the mainland by a bridge. The town is placed on the slope of a hill, and has regularly-built streets, which cross each other at right angles. It is inclosed by strong fortifications, and on the summit of the hill is a fortress called Moro castle. The harbour lies between the town and tho mainland. San Juan Is the seat of government The chief public buildings are the cathedral, a theatre, a military hospital for 350 patient; another for females, a jail, n house of correction, a handsome town-house, an arsenal, a custom-house, four churches and two chapels. The town has been thrice unsuccessfully attacked by British forces : in 1594 under Sir Francis Drake ; in 1791 under Sir Ralph Abercronsby ; and in 1799 under Sir Henry Harvey; and onoo successfully in 1597 under the Earl of Cumberland.
The more important of the smaller towns in Puerto Rico are Maya guee and Aguadilla on the west ooast, Ponco on the south coast, Humacao on the east coast, and Pepino and Cayey in the interior. The rest are very small, consisting generally of a large square with a church and a few straggling houses.