Climate and Catastrophe in Cuba and the Atlantic World in the Age of Revolution

Contents/Figures and Maps

c o n t e n t s xi Acknowledgments one 1 Cursed by Nature two 21 Be Content with Things at Which Nature Almost Revolted three 60 It Appeared as If the World Were Ending four 92 The Violence Done to Our Interests five 123 In a Common Catastrophe All Men Should Be Brothers six 154 The Tomb That Is the Almendares River seven 193 So Contrary to Sound Policy and Reason Appendix 1 203 A Chronology of Alternating Periods of Drought and Hurricanes in Cuba and the Greater Caribbean, Juxtaposed with Major Historical “Events,” 1749–1800 Appendix 2 207 Sources for the Maps 211 Notes 275 Bibliography 299 Index This page intentionally left blank f i g u r e s a n d m a p s Figures 4.1 The Postillión de México, dismasted in the hurricane of January 1771, 99 6.1 View of the Chorrera River basin prior to the storm of 1791, 165 6.2 Bridge over the Cojímar River destroyed in the storm of 1791, 166 6.3 Plans for new bridge over the Cojímar River after the storm of 1791, 167 Maps 3.1 Hurricane strikes in the Caribbean basin, from August to October 1766, 69 4.1 Hurricane strikes in the Caribbean basin, from June to September 1772, 93 5.1 Hurricane strikes in the Caribbean basin, February 1780 and from July to October 1780, 145 This page intentionally left blank ...