The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-14

ior me. took piece OF hard biscuit, nip OF
cheese and drink OF water and we took up the
line OF march. was furnished with q crude wax
candle to enable me 10 overcome the thousand and
one obstacles OF the forest path. The men were
similarly provided. II was a singular and impress
sye sight 10 the picturesque forms OF these sons
OF freedom, now Illuminated by the full glare OF the
lights they carried. which threw around hood OF
light and shade on the neighboring trees, then In
an instant plunged into that dubious shade which
n neither light nor darkness, and finally for an in
slant disappearing into Impenetrable gloom, to
emerge suddenly into the full glare OF the artid-
cial light by which we marched.
As the day dawned we heard the
SHOUTS AND CURSES or THE SPANISH MULETEERs,
who were loudly halooing at the animals they were
driving. II was a small convoy going along the
high road about half mile from where we were.
II looked like tempting fortune 10 be so near the
spaniards. Dut was assured there was not the
slightest reason Tor apprehension had they
known that We were so near. Our march lay over
comparatively level ground. through thick wood,
where now and then we passed open spaces
bearing the backened ruins OF former habita-
tions. At noon the man. his wife. the two
small boys aud their dogs left us 10 the midst OF the
forest. at point where the beds Of two dried
streams intersec,ed each other. We continued our
march and passed the River Cauto, near place
called cauto Abajo, at one O'Clock p N. Remcm-
boring the majestic proportions OF the Lower Cauto
] was preparing In my own mind 10 do the heroic
and swim IL with my clothes on my back but, think
OF my disappointment, when approaching the
stream found 1t TO be shabby, shallow one OF
dozen or two yards wide, Its clear waters, rum
ming over rocky bed, being hardly deep enough
TO reach tho knees. One OF the men, casting OF his
sack picked me up on his back and lightly carried
me over the stream, 80 that had not to take OF
my boots or wet my feet. AT six O'Clock we reached
the hating place, a rancho In the woods, that
was AS dinicult for q stranger 70 find as the first
one we had reached. ] was very tired and foot
sore, but sad nothing OF IL to the men, who In
consequence, gave Inc the credit OF being atremen-
dous traveller. / was soon served with some ex-
cellent coffee in the shell Of small calabash in.
stead OF cup, ana saw, with infinite pleasure, that
a comfortable bed was being prepared for me. The
hammock is the universal way OF sleeping in Cuba
Lbre, but 1t sometimes happens That a fellow either
mot rich enough to own one or may have lost it,
when a bed is used.
BED IN CUBA LIBRR
The bed il formed OF four forked stakes, at con-
venent distances, driven into the ground. Across
the shorter sides OF the parallelogram stout stick
Is laid on either end, resting across the forks.
sufficient number OF young saplings Is then pro-
vided and laid Iengthways over the frame. These
saplings form the bottom Of the bed. The sticks
are bound together with withes Of the demajagua
the bark OF the majagua tree which furnishes a
fbrous material that is manufactured into excel
lent ropes. over the bottom OF my bed was placed
q large piece OF yagua, a nbrous substance shed
with the monthly branches OF the royal palm. 1t
Is often six feet long by two or three feet
wide, nearly as tough as leather and in Cuba Libre
serves quite az many purposes. Over the yagua
was spread my hammock and my saddle bags
formed very good pillow.
The people in this rancheria-about nfteen or
eighteen men ana more women and children
did everything that their minds could sug-
gest or their means permit TO make me comfort
able. was not little amused at one little fellow,
q negro child. about three or iour years old. As
soon AZ he saw me he got awfully frightened and
commenced yelling and crying at terrible rate.
He had 4f
NEVER BEFORE SEEN MAN OF NY COLOR,
and he evidently thought that must be some
dreadful sort OF wild animal, specially made to
scare little boys. Between every 1t OF crying he
would look at me with frightened wondering
looks, as much as to say. what hideous-l looking
man How did he come to lose his natural color
and become that dirty whittier" Islept as well on my
new kind OF bed az the cold would permit, for in
the night there sprung up a fresh northern breeze
that carried the sharp chlness Of Ice in its breath
To-day our march lay through level country, with
good hard trails to travel on We again passed the
Cauto, and at half-past five O'Clock reached
TIE ''PREFEcTURE.n
The Project is q civil onicer, whose duty IL that
OF sheriff and justice Of the peace combined. Here,
for the first time met three officials OF the Cuban
Republic-the Project, who was q smart little fell
low, white, OF the usual Cuban type; o commits
ciop NJ 10 0i. vvh0 f1ut m
ceive correspondence from Santiago, sort and
forward 1t. He was quite gooo-looking. Spanish
looking man, OF rather low stature stout FORM black
eyes and long, black hair. The other was young,
fair-skinned man, rather TALL features well cut,
with blue eyes, fine teeth, good mouth and we'll
rounded chin. He talked with remarkable nuency
and well, proving himself to be q person OF good
education and social standing. The Commissioner
and the Project were also intelligent persons, and
seemed to have moved In a pretty good sphere OF
life. The Prefecture was in small clearing in the
woods. where number OF ranchos were erected.
A labyrinth OF trails from many directions led to it
but only the initiated could have found the place.
person ignorant OF the locality might wander
about all day through the perplexing paths around
it and not get to the right spot. This was the case
with most Of the other rancherias that found at
any distance from the camps. l
INVITED THESE THREE GENTLEMEN TO Dine WITH Mr.
] had bread cheese, sardines, German sausages,
coffee and nip OF brandy This to them, was a
sumptuous banquet, though at the time ] did not
realize the TACT The edibles vanished with O
rapdity that was enchanting to behold. After the
meal the man who waited on me whispered sor-
rOwfully, as he gathered up the debris-
"Ah Senior, why did you place all your provisions
before those gentlemen They would have lasted
yourself long time; but now they are all gone,
and you will feel the want Of them"
i asked IL there was not food in the camp. lie
mourniully answered.
"wHO KNOWS 20
We had travelled about twelve leagues Tor thirty
miles, that day. My feet were blistered and was
tired out and exhausted, SO that 1t did not cost
much trouble to sleep. Here we received news, on
the 10th OF March, OF threatened attack Jiguani
bv the Cubans on the night OF the l4th. ON the