New-York tribune., 1880-02-15
GENERAL GRANT IN CUBA.
YUMURI AND THE CAVES OF BELLAMAR.
A DAY NEAR MATANzAs-THE STRANGE GREEN VAL
LEY WHICH WAS ONCE LAKE-UNDERGRoUND

A DAY NEAR MATANzAs-THE STRANGE GREEN VAL
LEY WHICH WAS ONCE LAKE-UNDERGRoUSD
woNDERs--ANoTHER RECEPTION AT A PALACE.
IFRoN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEI
MATANZAs Cuba, Feb 6.-Genera Grant left tia-
vana to visit this place yesterday afternoon, accom-
panied by CoIonels Cerero and Cuesta and several
other officers of the Government, beside members OF
his party The route taken was the Bay Kali
road Matanzas being sxty-two miles distant,
through diversified country of rough hills and
broad Aat valleys. This is one of the best sugar
regions of Cuba, and some persons believe that
Matanzas viii yet be the chief port of the island on
this account, and because the bay is broader than
that of Havana.
Upon arriving at the depot General Grant was
met b. the Alcade accompanied by the adJutant
representing the Governor of the Province, and
members of the council and a speech of welcome
was made. When the General had been formally
offered the nOspitalites of the city, the party were
shown 70 carriages and driven to the palace. Here
the Governor of the Province received General
Grant in the most cordial manner at the foot of the
staircase and showed hn and his companions to the
arlOrs.
After the presentation at the Palace the travellers
were driven to the hill to the northwest OF the city,
overlooking of the most celebrated valleys IN
the world, that of the Yumuri. The vis tors saw
great bowl where once a vast lake lay now green
with the grass and cane of the plantations that are
spread over its bottom 1t dips down several hum
dreG feet at at this point. and stretches away
for miles to the range of hills on the other side.
Through the centre wind two small streams, but
there II no valley along their banks to break the
symmetry of the smooth bowl They are only like
bitches put IN the surface, and they thread their
way down to the ravne which opens INTO the bay,
and which explains the phenomenon. This ravine
il simply great rift torn in the hill that lay be-
tween the lake and the waters of Matanzas Bay
No doubt some terrible upheaval Of the earths eur
face made the rent through which the water rushed
TO the ocean.
VIEW OF THE CITY.
The hill where stands chapel overlooking the
Yumuri gives a magnificent view. on the one hand.
OF tire city and the other Of its broad harbor and
wide valley. The city is a beautiful one with good
buildings, chiefly of one story but at most OF only
two stories. The houses are of a delicate creamy
tint with here and there one of light blue or
gable Of red. The roOfs are of deep red tile and
these varied colors blend prettily. Its site is at
the head of the bay and 1t is built symmetrically
about the curve Of the shore. The 10000 citizens
have plenty Of places in which to worship whose
stiff little spires rise above the surrounding roofs
The same evening elegant reception was given
to General Grant at the Palace Of the Governor of
the Province. Ihe GalaCe IS nne tWOstOfY edluce
whose great columns IN front and h'gh-aIcned
dOOrways take away from il any appearance OF low
ness II looks out upon the most beautiful little
square IN the West Indies, iald OIL 10 regular Mo-
sac work Of paved walks and flower beds. The
walks all diverge from the centre, whore tn ,eis
magnificent fountain shaded with palms and flower,
ing trees from both hemlspheres. band played
/ from ) o'clock till midnight on this square and
thousands of ope tbronged the spacious walks or
reclined upon the benches.
THF FAMOUS CAVES OF BELLAMAR.
q l. I,od haap al paH
visit the caves of Bellamar on the opposite side of
the bay from the Yumuri. not over two miles from
the city. II was nearly hour later however.
before the excursion moved away in an intcimin-
able train Ot volantes The road led mp rocky bill
after skirtng the head of the bay. to hill not less
rocky though at the entrance to the grotto it is
| level and grass grown The cavern was discovered
accidentally by party Of wOrkmen who were pro-
ceeding to open n stone quarry. They drove crow
bar through the crust so that It fell down INTO the
depths of thc earth to the intense astOnshment OF
! the ignorant natives who were nearly frightened
out of their senses II has natural exit so far
il known. aud the part discovered at first was the
largest cavern of the system. In fact the rest Is
little else than a winding tunnel leading from It:
| When all was ready for the descent the guides,
| with great wax tapers. led the way down iron
stair ~ the first landing and turned at rght-angles
down second 10 n natural balcony OF chalky rock.
The first landing was an artlhcal one made OF con-
| crete. From the second landing there wound down
| and down other III ghs. first to the right and then
10 the Left, To dcpth perhaps OF seveny-tive feet
| below the roof that hung with stalactiteS. gilt
! tenng like stars under the torch-hght. The first
| thing 10 be was new grott0 just opened and
| mover before seen except by the workmen WHO had
carved out he long passages leading TO IT. lhe
| way was now adifcially cut through soft chalky
formation, of color. to the head OF the stairs
that wound back and forth down perpendlcularpa pas
sage that looked like well forty feet deep Here
Mrs. Sheridan wanted To go back bat was prevailed
on to proceed. provided she could 60 alone e
| and hold tine railing. it did look
1 la
new caves Is a room not larger than coy parlor.
with ceiing scarce SIX feet high-but that cellng
| is wonder. There hang crystals ike strings OF
frost and mosses that look as though they would
float The staiacties OF larger size are peculiar IN
one respect. They have trimming OF icy looking
fills and ribbons, as though u sudden breeze had
disturbed them as they were becoming hxed ana
they had concealed in these fantastic forms. Usually
staiacti'e formations at rght angles with the
surface from which the water drops. but these are
crookcd aud twisted. and gnarod Ike tangled
branches OF trees.
is little more than Il tunnel or eight feet high IN
the man though sometimes so low as To causo the
visitors to walk with heads bent 10 their Knees AT
short intervals II widens little ana the ceiiIpg
rises 10 Twenty-Five, thirty or even forty feet There
are pure springs of water in two or three places III
basins of crysai. The liquid flowed III by some I'M
seen channels and back again as mySteuously
There or two chambers where the formations
of staactltes are very weird and beautiful AMI now
and then lttle cluster of stalagmies rises IKE
the towers of miniature churches his winding
passage with its little galleries continues about
mile and half. but when the distance was TWO,
thirds covered the guides assured that the rest
was of the character and tho peTspiTlng party
wlth coats dangling on the arm and wllted collars,
were ready to return. None of the ladies had made
the second part of the trip except Miss Mckenan,
who felt well paid for its hardships.
Iu conclusion the verdict as to the famous Caves
of Bcllamar is that they are pretty but not grand
There ls a beautiful and fairy dellcacy in the for
nations of the crystals, but there is none OF that
majesty which some of tho great grottoes oil the
world display, where the stalactites hang like sus-
pended forests and stalagmites stand IN glgahtlc
c. lumns.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.