Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-04-06
A VALLEY IN THE CLOUDS.
A New Eden-Temperate Climate In the
Tropics-Pumpkins, Melons, and Nor
thcrn Pines.

AzuA, Feb. 81. From Azua, the hot
test place touched by the Commission
in the Republic of Dominica, an expe-
dition of three persons went out into
the mountains to the northeast 80 or
40 miles to the cool and elevated valley
and town Of Maniella, embosomed in
high ridges and peaks, where the tenn
perate air nourishes plants of the spe-
cies that flourish in our northern soils.
After toilsome ride of four hours over
the dry, bistering-hot, caetus-grown
plain which lines the bay of Ocoa, the
road suddenly rose by zigzag, 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 it's extent, the tumble of
mountain peaks, gorges, and wales
around, and the broad valley that
stretches westward from Azua to the
western shore of the island.
The cactus and all its thick -leaved
kindred plants that love aridity and
heat were left behind, and a luxurious
growth covered the mountain sides.
There were royal palms, majestic pill
lars 70 feet high crowned with a circle
of waving leaves II feet long; lance
palms, with delicate shafts 40 feet high
and three inches in diameter, with a
tuft of fans at the top; and right be-
side them our own northern pines,
grand old fellows, murmuring the same
solemn airs as at home. The air was
deliciously cool after the glowing heat
below; the winds bracing; the clouds
were all about; a mist or shower was
in sight or falling half the time. The
expedition rode on 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 north
ern vegetables, beside the sugar-cane
and bananas. The people were numer-
Gus, Spanish in blood, with finer fea-
lures than the rough hided blacks who
sweltered in the heat below. They
were very courteous to the ADaericoaos,
for all this region is devoted to Baez
and annexation.
Before nightfall the party suddenly
came upon the daintest Eden that fancy
could picture-a sweet valley, sleeping,
green and richly beautiful, in the arms
of the ancient mountains, whose gray
paternal scalps stood serene in the up
per air away through and above the
clouds. The valley was eight or ten
miles long, north and south. An ar
rowy river, ten yards wide, rushed
through the midst Two pretty prai-
ries, Of several hundred acres each,
opened like parks, with wide, neatly
swept maches through the gulf of ver-
dure. A 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 sidewalks
leagues away.
EVERY PLANT FROM CANADA TO PANAMA.
One farm was marvel 1t was cul-
tivated by curious Frenchman, who
had nestled far up in side valley.
There in compass of twenty acres was
almost every cultivated plant that
grows between Panama and Canada :
peas and bananas, cabbages and or
anges, beans and plantains, onions and
sugar cane, lettuce and cotton, radishes
and yams, corn and coffee; while across
the fence were mimosas and oaks, palms
aud pines. The air was cool-so much
so that one could not stand in door
way because a draft would chill; the
breeze was bracing. The GOODNESS is
not merely from the general elevation
of the region, but, perhaps, chiefly ow-
ing to the presence of the peaks 1000
or 5000 feet high which always reach
up into the chilly space that is so far
above our heads, and reflect cold cur
rents from their lofty sides.
The people said it was never cold and
never very hot; June is always just
opening This is the winter, or dry
season, but the mountain fires seen
generally in the west end of the island,
could not burn in the moist, rankly-
growing trees and shrubs, creepers and
trailers, MOSES and grasses, that grew
matted and massed together on these
mountain slopes. In all directions there
was an appearance of industry in its
simpler forms, making comfortable
homesteads poor effort, perhaps,
compared with the sturdy, hard handed
labor of Northern farmer, but encour-
aging to eyes that had seen only the
idle unthrift that prevailed elsewhere
The people said that men, white men,
too, could work there all day-not
merely little while in the morning and
evening, with long five hours noon
ng.
The interferences with work now are
the insecurity of property, and want of
hope of accumulation, as well as, per-
haps, Unborn laziness. But the place
seemed one where our Northern people,
white or colored, could live in a whole
some, prosperous, honorable fashion,
according to our old notions. There
was a probability of thrifty homes