New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-17
VALLEY IN TEE CLOUDS.


TROPICS-PUMPKINS, MELONS, AND NORTHERN
PINES.
aqua, Feb 2t.-From Azua, the hottest
Mace touched by the Commission in the Republic of
Dominica, an expedition of three persons went out
into the mountains to the northeast 30 OF 40 miles
10 the cool and elevated valley andtown Of Maneila
embosomcd in high ridges and peaks, where the
temperate air nourshes plants Of the species that
flourish in our northern soils. After toilsome ride
of four hours over the dry blisering-hot, cactus
crown plain which lines the bay Of OcOa, the road
suddenly rose by zgzag, almost perpendicular $500
feet TO the crest of the first range overlooking the
coast for near 100 miles, the great bay of OcOa IN all
its extent. the tumble of mountain peaks gorges'
and wales around and the broad valley that stretches
westward from Aqua to the western shore OF the
island The cactus and all its thick-leaved kindred
plants that love aridity and heat were left behind
aud y luxurious growth covered the mountain sides
There were royal palms, majestic pillars 20 feet high
crowned with circle of waving leaves - feet long;
Iancepals with delicate shafts 40 feet high and three
inches in diameter, with tuft of fans at the top
and right beside them our own Northern pines,
grand old fellows murmuring the same solemn airs
as at home The air was deliciOusy cool after the
glowing heat below the winds bracing; the clouds
were all about mist OF shower was in sight or
falling half the time. The expedition rode nearly
all day through the mountain region, up and down,
following gorges through little intervals, over high
spurs In the patches by the wayside here and
there were pumpkins, and melons and Northern veg
etables. beside the sugar-cane and bananas. The
people were numerous, Spanish in blood, with finer
features than the rough-hided blacks who swell
tered in the heat below. They were very
courteous to the AmGiCdaOs, for all tins
region is devoted TO Baez. and annexation
Before nichtfal the party suddenly came upon
the daintes Eden that fancy could picture-a sweet
valley. sleeping, green and richly beautiful, III the
arms of the ancient mountains whose gray paternal
scalps stood serene in the upper air away through
and above the clouds The valley was eight OF ten
miles long, north and south. An aTTowy nYer' ten
ward, wide. rushed through the midst. Two pretty
praries of several hundred acres each, opened ike
marks. with wide neatly-swcpt reaches through the
Gulf Of verdure town of say $50 houses sat in the
lap OF the valley Little farms by dozens could be
deserted all about and extending up the slopes and
sido-vales leagues away.
TIE VERY GROUND CRIES OUT FOR ANNEXATION.
The Amcyicqpos pilgrims were welcomed with all
the resources Of a simple rural people There IS no
shop worth the name-nO business in the place-all
is quiet primitive secluded. The Alcalde, Cen VIC
toria an aged but wonderfully vigorous man, VINO
had travelled in the United States and Europe, ana
who. long ago when he was Governor Of Province,
had entertained Lieut.. now Admiral Porter, and who
had figured in half dozen revolutions before his re-
tirement TO this spot gave them ample hospitality
his house his table and his time. The citizens
called upon them with offers of kindness, and eager
ness to learn Of the hope of annexation of the rule
of law and order and the influx Of American capital
and enterprise. The old Alcalde, with trOpc ardor
said the people here waiting and watching for
the day of annexation as the Jews of old looked for
the coming of the Messiah The COmmandant Of
the District which includes about 5000 people
% ia al prips for No lQdt
Marty i'm long rides about the valley through miles of
farms and honesteads not such as are in central New
York but better far than the island had before shown
70 the party. They stopped and walked through
coffee plantations and fields Of sugarcane with crops
growing or grown Of surprising richness.
EVERY PLANT FROM CANADA TO PANAMA.
One farm was a marvel. Ii was cultivated by a
curious Frenchman who had nestled far up in a side
valley There in a compass of 20 acres was almost
every cultivated plant that grows between Panama
and Canada: peas and bananas, cabbages and
ORANGES beans and pantains, onions and sugar cane,
lettuce and cotton radishes and vans, corn and
coffee; willie across the fence were mimOsas and
oaks. palms and pines The air was cOol-so much
50 that one would not stand in doorway because a
draft would chill; the breeze was braclng. lhe
GOODNESS is not merely from the general elevation OF
the reiOn, but perhaps chiefly owing to the pres
ence of the peaks 1000 5000 feet high
which always reach up into the chilly space that
is 80 far above our beads and reflect cold
currents from their lofty sides. The people said 1t
was never cold and never very hot; June is always
just opening This is the Winter, dry season, but
the mountain fires seen generally in the west end OF
the island could not burn in the moist, rankly-grOw-
ing trees and shrubs creepers and trailers moses
and grasses, that grew matted and massed together
on these mountain slopes. In all directions there
was appearance Of industry in its simpler forms
making comfortable homesteads; poor effort per
haps, compared with the sturdy, hard-handed labor
Of Northern farmer, but encouraging to eyes that
had seen only the idle unthrft that prevailed else
where The people said that men, white men, too,
could work there all ddg-nOt merely little while
in the morning and evening, with long five hours
incoming. The interfercnces with work now are
the insecurity Of property, and want Of hope Of
emulation, well as, perhaps. Unborn laziness.
But the place seemed one where our Northern people,
white OF cOlOred. could live in a wholesome, prosper
Gus, honorable fashion according to old notions
There was probability of thrifty homes here. This
j. not, however solitary patch, but the beginning
OF region Of the same genial character extending
over great portion Of the central districts of the
island, where than dozen such valleys,
aud much wider ones, each large and rich enough