d therefore the government, while practically of the
same character, has not been so intolerable as in Cuba and the
Philippines.

For nearly three hundred years the island was neglected. During all that
time it was used chiefly as a watering station for ships and as a penal
colony. In 1815 it was thrown open to colonization, and land was given
free to all Spaniards who went there to settle. As a consequence a host
of adventurers hastened to Porto Rico, as well as a number of Spanish
loyalists, belonging to the better classes, who had been expelled by the
decrees of other and rebellious colonies.

About this time there was a large importation of negro slaves to work on
the sugar plantations. For these reasons the wealth and population
rapidly increased.

Nevertheless there has been a large number of revolutions against the
home government.

As early as 1820, long before Cuba had made any attempt to throw off the
Spanish yoke, the Porto Ricans made an effort to obtain their
independence. After a short guerilla war, this first rebellion was
suppressed, as were also several other abortive attempts.

In 1868, the year of the great uprising in Cuba, the most formidable
outbreak occurred in Porto Rico.

After two mouths of severe fighting the Spanish regulars were
victorious, and the leader of the rebels, Dr. Ramon E. Bentances, who
has since resided most of the time in Paris, was captured, as was also
J. J. Henna, afterward a New York physician. All the prisoners were
sentenced to be shot, November 4, 1868.

On the very day preceding that date news came to the island that Queen
Isabella had been deposed, and in consequence the political prisoners
were released.

But they were afterward banished, and in their exile they have ever
since been active in devising measures for the freedom of the island.

There is no reason whatever to think that there will be any discontent
in the future under the liberal and beneficent government of the United
States.

CHAPTER III.

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE.

Now that there is no doubt of the acquisition of Porto Rico by the
United States, many of our people will be going there, and it is
therefore of great interest to note how its general features will please
and its climate be adapted to Americans.

The island is most eastern of the Greater Antilles, and it is the fourth
in size and importance of all the islands of the West Indies. In fact,
in point of density of populati