An approach to the "secret" expedition of Ventura Barcaíztegui 1790-1793 and the reconnaissance of the eastern part of Cuba

Abstract

Included among the scientific expeditions undertaken by Spain in the eighteenth century were those engaged in cartographic surveying, whose main thrust began in 1783, with an true prograrnme of hydrographie reconnaissance of the neuralgic areas of the empire. The island of Cuba, the most important Spanish bastion in the Caribbean, was the setting in 1790 for the expedition commanded by the sailor Ventura Barcaíztegui to survey the lesser known and less populated eastern area, and to study its forestry resources with a view to supplying the shipyards of Habana. The article outlines the structure of the expedition and its initial findings.