http://www.trippert.comTrippert : share and blog your trips120 http://www.trippert.com/article/178:overviewThe native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching pointSun, 25 June 2006 00:07:00 America/New_York