Horse-racing and cock-fighting remained the principal amusement of the populace.  Every house and cabin had its game-cock, every village its licensed cockpit.  The houses of all classes were built of wood; the cabins of the “jibaros” were mere bamboo hovels, where the family, males and females of all ages, slept huddled together on a platform of boards.  There were no inns in country or town, except one in the capital.  Schools for both sexes were wanting, a few youths were sent by their parents to be educated in France or Spain or the United States, and after two or three years returned with a little superficial knowledge.

About this time the formation of a militia corps of 7,000 men was a step in the right direction.  The people, dispersed over the face of the country, living in isolated houses, had little incentive to industry.  Their wants were few and easily satisfied, and their time was spent swinging in a hammock or in their favorite amusements.  The obligation to serve in the militia forced them to abandon their indolent and unsocial habits and appear in the towns on Sundays for drill.  They were thus compelled to be better dressed, and a salutary spirit of emulation was produced.  This created new wants, which had to be supplied by increased labor, their manners were softened, and if their morals did not gain, they were, at least, aroused from the listless inactivity of an almost savage life to exertion and social intercourse.

Such were the social conditions of the island when the death of Ferdinand VII gave rise to an uninterrupted succession of political upheavals, the baneful effects of which were felt here.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 49:  Duty on the sale of produce or articles of commerce.]

[Footnote 50:  In 1834 the Queen Regent, Maria Christina, gave him permission to reside in Puerto Rico.  Two years later he was reinstated in favor and was made Military Governor of Cartagena.  He died in Madrid a few years later.]

[Footnote 51:  Colonel Flinter.  An Account of the Present State of the Island of Puerto Rico.  London, 1834.]

[Footnote 52:  Brau, p. 284.]

CHAPTER XXV

POLITICAL EVENTS IN SPAIN AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON AFFAIRS IN PUERTO RICO

1833-1874

THE French Revolution of 1830 and the expulsion of Charles X revived the hopes of the liberal party in Spain, which party the bigoted absolutism of the king and his minister had vainly endeavored to exterminate.  The liberals saluted that event as a promise that the nineteenth century should see the realization of their aspirations, and the exiled members of the party at once came to France to attempt an invasion of Spain, counting upon the sympathy of the French Government, which was denied them.  The attempt only brought renewed persecution to the members at home.