Rambles by Land and Water; or, Notes of Travel in Cuba and Mexico

The author chronicles travels through Cuba and Mexico, recording coastal passages, a canoe ascent of the Panuco River, and excursions to ruined sites in Tamaulipas. Detailed observations of Havana cover its harbor, fortifications, public edifices including the cathedral and Columbus's tomb, social life, suburbs, and nearby plantations, with practical notes for travelers. Interior sketches describe landscapes, tropical skies, sugar and coffee cultivation, forests and wildlife, and encounters with local customs and social barriers to Anglo visitors. Antiquarian inquiries interweave careful descriptions of disparate ruins, discussion of vanished traditions and possible origins of former inhabitants, and a call for organized exploration to document American antiquities.