Before the SpanishAmerican war there never was any great number of civilians living on the island. There were only a few large Spanish landowners. engaged In raising cattle and hogs. who utilized prison labor. as the island was a penal and military station. where prisoners from the other West Indian islands of the Spanish possessions were sent rather than to the Spanish penal possessions in Europe. The reason that the census taken by the American military in 1899 showed a population of over 3.100 in the Isle of Pines was due to a great influx of Spanish refugees. who had gone there for protection during the change from Spanish to American sovereignty. fearing to remain among their Cuban neighbors. who they believed might attempt to wreak vengeance on all Spaniards in Cuba. At one time these refugees were said to have numbered over 14.000. but when the census was taken. in 1899. the larger portion of them had returned to thet homes in Cuba. and within a year after the census was taken they had practically all returned to Cuba. leaving the normal population of the Islandwhich. in my judgment. at that time was not more than 1.500. I believe that about half of these have since emigrated to Cuba. after selling out their holdings to Americans. their places being taken by the purchasers. I believe that the present population of the island is be. tween 1.600 and 1.800. Nearly all of the native population live in Nueva Gerona and Santa Fe. and nearly all the farms are owned and operated by Americans.
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refugees emigrated