TRINIDAD  , a

town near the southern coast of Cuba; in Santa Clara Province, about 45 M. south-east of Cienfuegos. and 3 M. from its seaport, Casilda, which lies due south . Pop . (1907), 11,197 . There is a small local railway, not connected (in 1909) with the central trunk line of the island . The city lies on the slope of La Vigia hill (goo ft.) amid higher mountains, and on the banks of the Jayoba (San Juan) river . The streets are narrow, broken and tortuous, and the general aspect of the town is medieval . There are some attractive buildings and a very fine market square . The fine scenery in the neighbourhood, and the climate, which is possibly the healthiest in Cuba, make the place a favourite resort for natives and foreigners . Casilda (pop. in 1907, 1246) has a land-locked, shallow harbour; but Masio Bay, a trifle farther distant, accommodates larger craft; and there are excellent deep-water anchorages among the quays off the coast . The Manati river is navigable for about 7 M. inland, and is used as an outlet for sugar and molasses crops . These and honey are the chief exports; tobacco and various vegetables and fruits are of minor importance . Trinidad is one of the seven original cities of Cuba established by Diego Velasquez .

It was founded in 1514 on the coast, but after being attacked by pirates was removed inland . It was thrice sacked by

English buccaneers—in 1642, 16J4 and 1702; and in the following years, up to and for a time after the peace of Utrecht (1713), it maintained ships and soldiers . Indeed, throughout the first half of the 18th century it was on a continuous war footing against English corsairs, making reprisals on British ships and thriving at the same time on a large contraband trade with Jamaica and other foreign colonies . In 1818 Casilda was opened to legal commerce under the national and foreign flags .