The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03

n - wonder n IN she same. AZ other times,
guided By strange fortune, make my way
through paths supposed 70 be known only 70 the
Initiated.
10 mr. the region explored BY me in this depart
ment h bounded by Oobre, Palma, r-Arriba.
sabannla and Ramon Las Ysquas The map gives
but faint idea Of the dincult nature Of this part
Of tire country. For the most part the roads
run through thick woods, through which q
man on zoos Mues 'hew his way, with
the exception OF . few paths known only
10 the guides. These forests are impossible for
horssmen. The only persons to be met with after
leaving Cobre few leagues behind are soldiers and
asvtsros bringing In the produce OF the outlying
plantations. In addition 1t Is said that insurgents
and bandits are sometimes encountered. or the
former have only seen the traces, and on one oc-
casion passing close to . wood occupied by q band
Of cutthroats distinctly heard them laughing and
shouting. Fortunately they were too much 0ccu-
pied to notice me, or l might have made an unde-
sirable acquaintance a. l afterwards learned they
were pack Of unmitlgated rascals. It is not my
intentson 70 write moro about my search expedi-
zion fes good and sun1cient reasons vevy4 q
the subject Of my detention and the warning
given me By the oficAl that II taken after COM
mpnicaAina With. the insurgents win be shot as
spy deserve some notice. Since have come to
the island 1t has been my constant aim to avoid
any ttoshDs or misunderstanding with the authorl-
ties and have, therefore, been careful not to AFFORD
them any ground Of complaint Until the night
Of my detention ct Palma had reason to believe
that the authorities were perfectly satisfied that
had always acted In o straightforward and salts
factory manner. 1t was tacitly understood that
was to visit the insurgent Ines though no special
permission was granted. In order not to compro-
mise the auth0ritie with those terrible volunteers
who
Is HOWL, But DO NOT FIGHT,
! was content to run the risk Of being treated
summarily at the outposts II by Ill fortune
should fall into the hands OF some ultra-fanatic
epaniard. This arrangement was the very best
that could have been made for both parties, be-
cause. while It guarded the authorities from parti-
san censure, It enabled me to avoid compromising
relations with the Spanish party which might
render me suspected by the Cubans Until
the moment when l was arrested, or, as
the authorities win insist, detained, in
Ramon las Yequss NO impedment had
been placed in my way BY the authorities. On
the contrary, their treatment Of me had been
decidedly consideFate, and even on that occasion
every attention and respect was shown to me;
but this did not prevent the arrest or detention
from being very inconvenient. The great difficulty
encountered here Is to md
ID
The fact being that the insurgents constantly
change their position in the dense woods, 1t is
almost impossible to discover their whereabouts.
During my stay at T-Arriba received Information
Of the existence Of band Of insurgent negroes,
under the command Of an escaped slave, gigantic
In stature and terrible in aspect. This man with
his band remains constantly in the woody noun
tains In the vicinity Of Nlpinas. All accounts;
were agreed that Guillernon was IS savage in
given 81 tSis Band, and il u said that aff white
men who fall into their power are
disposed OF In the most summary manner.
However, my experience Of these stories
had made me sceptcal, and / resolved to make o
slight visit to his district just to see II there was
any truth in the description of this redoubtable
chief The distance OF Ramon las Yequas from
r.Arriba IL about hve short leagues, running
through wild and almost completely abandoned
country, very mountainous and thickly wooded
10 THE SOLITARY FORT
defending the pass between the two villages was
passed without diculty. Preached the centre Of the
embryo town OF Ramon without any more trouble
than going through the form OF answering the SEN
tinels challenge. The Captain de Partdo, WHO'S the
highest civii functionary, received me kindly, and,
- wished 70 despatch telegram informed me
that the operator was ct breakfast In the village
recommending me to zee him II wanted the tele-
gram sent Immediately. On descending found
the operator, who, being an onlcial, OF course
coNDEscENDED TO BE POLITE
but as breakfast was about to be served 1t was
necessary to wait some time. As soon as break
fast was over the operator went to his post, and
some officers appeared on the scene. These gen.
tlemen invited me TO Join them in bottle Of ale,
to which agreed. In the meantime one of the
tai Tn
the house Of the Captain de Partido. Not feeling
inclined to walk up hill in the sun sent the on
cial my cedaa, thinking that 1t would satisfy him.
In few moments, however, he came himself to
request that Iwould accompany him to the capt
tdnerfa. At the same time he asked the Captain oil
the guard, who was walking with rs, to 90 to his
post which discovered to be next to the house oil
the Captain de Partido. In fact, was prisoner.
Arrived at the capttanerto, was politely informed
that telegram would have to be sent to General
Morales a. to
M RIGHT TO TRAVEL AND CARRY ARMS
The Captain was small and energetic person,
slightly pock.marked with keen features and small
dark eyes, and very Dogberry in disposition. BE
informed me that there was slight irregularity In
my passport, and that until an answer was re-
celved nom General Morales ives not at liberty
10 proceed. When he learned that I was the
HERALD correspondent he az once ordered up q
bottle Of ale, proposing to drink my health. de.
clined the compliment but onered to substitute the
toast Of 'Tlberty" Ny two jailers were too polite
to decline, but they drank the toast with an ex-
precision Of face decidedly comical. While the
Captain OF the guard, who is feeble young man
with a grievance, engages me in conversation,
Dogberry undertakes to draw pen and ink por-
trait Of ne after the manner OF the police reports
without appearing to DO 30 keep my eye ON him.
and catch him In fd0raste deltcto taking my figure.
tell him that did not think he was an artist and