Litchfield enquirer., 1874-04-02
Ou. Trip to Matanzas.

Imagine if you ear, the rising at half- past three A. M.. dressing in haste, get ting mp two or three sleepy children, who you expect every minute will cry, .sbut who don't' swallowing, boiling hot. few spoonfuis Of coffee; then taking sail in a small boat across water as still as a sea Of glass, with pale Luna at her full, she'd ding such 3 flood of mellow light over every thing that you can scarcely believe it is that darkest of all hours ''jast be- fore day
 Arriving at the city of Havana; We are joined by two friends who are to accom- pany us on our pleasure trip. Our greet ings are cordial, though every one knows they were wakened 6 little too early for comfort, but we take the Ferry, then the Steam Cars, and with delight are riding through 8 beautiful variety of scenery. from the fine sugar-loaf hills covered with low grass, Cor in some instances groves of trees) to the valleys filled with all classes of tropical verdure, like the Orange, Plantain, Banana, Cocoanut and even Royal Palm. while towering plants and many varieties of the Cactus add to the enjoyment of lover of nature; while to the speculative eye, the sugar planta- tions with their wide spread buildings, and tall chimneys, waving corn, and thatched huts for slaves are objects of in- terest
 is We are enjoying all this with great gusto. our attention is frequently called to some rare plant, or curious animal which one of our companions with an ar tistis eye has detected, when we might have passed 1t by unnoticed Arrived at Matanzas, We are pleased with the neat ness and comfort which marks the place. and after taking our ten o'clock break fast which greatly refreshes our inner man, we take Volantas, which are a fa- nous institution of the country, consist ing of Q low carriage with top projecting far forward, only two wheels, and very long thills, into which is fastened one horse, while half beside, and half ahead, Is another horse, on which the driver with suit trimmed in yellow tape and high top boots, rides and controls them both. The whole outfit is strikingly novel, but very luxurious. Taking our eaokc r., 4booo 1-, n;lo ,,,;tL soo,e,1 -,.1.. ty past beautiful residences, fine gardens, and the beautiful bay with it's goodly number of vesels), up almost pefpendicu- lar banks, where the stones are so plenti-' full that we are tossed from side to side in the coach as We speed along; making the children and myself quite wild in our glee Out affecting more seriously other members of the party)r until wereach the Caves of Bellemar.
 Here We throw off all unnecessary clothing by advice of two gentlemen who have inst ascended from the cave, and preceded by our guide carrying two huge torches, we descend two long flights of of stairs into the darkness made visible" by the little light our guide gives us. Here We look down some fifty feet into ra- vine. on one side while on the other stands an immense pillar formed like the waves of a silken dress, which was formerly of purest whiteness. but has now become soiled by the smoke from the lights. Still farther down, We go over rugged crystqlized rocks, through marrow path ways, seeing the wonderful works of na- ture represented by solid masses of crys- tai with thousands of fine points sparkling like gems, or bearing the appearance of various things above the earths surface, such as the Virgins Robe beautifully em- broidered, the grand Organ which though voiceless is in perfect shape, and, more wonderful than all the rest, the Grand Saloon, where perfect archway of spark ling icicles form the entrance to what seems Cathedral Its vaulted roof sparkles with all the various devices which mother nature has been planning these many years; its little figures appear like quite congregation of people all in white, and every thing makes most per- feet whole. We stand in admiration, we speak and our voices echo and thrill through the grand arches and passages, until We feel that even here, three hun dred feet below the level of the sea, we are 1n Gods presence through his glori- ous works. We finish our tour and through another route return viewing stalactites and stalagmites in our way, until we reach the upper air again, where with thankful hearts we purchase some specimens of this wonderful cave, and ree. turn to the city to rest and chat, then dine. Then we visit very pretty church. then stroll about the town, finding beau- tiful park and crowds of richly dressed people. who ride or walk, or rest in rock ing chairs in the park, listen to some fine music and retire quite satisfied with our days sightseeing. We rise very early next morning, enter Volantes again witl, our pleasant companion, and ride through smooth beautiful roads to the ton of a hill where we see on one side the lovely bay with the mist just lifting it's soft veil from all the beautiful scenery beyond; and on the opposite side, what is called the Valley of the Tymniri, which is in reality more of basin than valley, with its formation distinctly marked by the roll of old oceans waves.
 In the valley are houses, groves of trees and rolling mounds, covered with very