New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-10
J.IrNr TO SAN DIEGO LOS BANGS.

n
VIEWING THR RURAL DIsTRICTs-RAPID TRAVELLING
OVER ROUGH ROADS IN vOLANTEs-PICTUKE OF
FASHIONABLE CUBAN wATERIHG PLACE -
STRANGE COSTUMES AND DANCES AT A RUSTIC
BAIL--mg MILK IN THE COCOA>UT.
tYRos A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THR TRTDUNE.l
san DIEGO Los BASos, Jan. 29.-General Grant
and party arrived yesterday, direct from havana
at this place, which is celebrated for It's thermal
baths Senior Manuel T. Bramods. general mana
ger of the Western Railroad. Dr. Daniel d. Burgess,
an officer of the United States Sanitary Commits
sion, Mr. L. d. Williams United States Vice-Con-
snl-C;enera Senior Julio Durege. proprietor of the
baths. Colonel Cuesta, Adjutant of the Captain
General and one or two Others were additions to
the ori Qnal party The country along the line OF
the rail way used to be devoted TO coffee culture, but
since sugar and tobacco raising has become more
profitable coffee has boon almost abandoned and
broad sugar plantations are seen on every SIDE
There are no fences grazing cattle are tethered Oy
a rope passing through tho cartilage OF the
nose. but out of respect for the roofing
habit the pigs are tethered by the leg
Palm trees lend great beauty TO the scene. They
grow everywhere in groups or rows or sometimes
In extensive forests. They raise their tops above
the almond, fg orange and mango. For fifty or
syen 100 feet their trunks stand straight and
smooth like Inssts to ship. and then the tops
s,read ont like an umbrella, with long, dropping
foliage Several varieties are common, but the
most numerous are the creole, cocoa and date palm
The Cuban or creole variety ia the most stately
with Its largo white trunk and clusters OF frplt
IL is the most valuable tree of the country, furnish
ing in its leaves wrappers for tobacco bales and IN
its nuts food for hogs The assessor on his tax-is
values these trees at 90 cents each. sugar cane
here is perennial IL is a frequent occurrence 10
s.e n field that has not been replanted for thirty
wi
yat,on whatever. The system Of farming consists
IN emitting the stalks year after year, TIL the ground
refuses to weld prottably any longer. when It is
ploughed aud turned into pasturage. Much maze
ia grown also but the native does not use the meal
for bread In fact. the lower classes hardly know
what bread is the tortilla, pancake, the yucca ana
plainta,n taking its place. The bread used 10y the
wel-to-do in life is manufactured from wheat Hour
from the United States
The travellers arrived at Paso Real, a station on
the road about 100 miles west OF Havana. at z
o'clock, having made short stop at San Crestooai'
the scene of greatest destruction by the recent
earthquake. After lunch the journey was re-
mmsd in yolautes. This volante must be seen to
be appreciated. II is IN appearance Ike balloon
on wheels. in its proclIvity to upset like an Irsh
jaunting car, and in its general convenience ana the
ease with which the traveller rides in It's capaclous
interior like phaeton The procession of volantes
was Quarter of a mile long. One Of them was
painted red and in this placed General ana
Mrs. Grant Aside from the color. all seemed 10 DC
the same. and of equally doubtful character and
wonderful construction. There was a great deal OF
loud talking good-natured and otherwise Of crack
ing of whips and backing and twisting OF unrnly
mules and horses aud unwieldy vehicles. Finally
they set off az a merry pace. The road from Paso
Real to San Diego has probably never been repaired
shce the original settlers took possession OF the
island As long it led across the level PLAIN all
was we'll. Soon a succession of hills was reached,
and the fun began. The rocking yolantes rolled
and swung until the occupants had TO hold on for
their lives. Ii n ade difference to the drivers
They had only object 10 view-to reach San
Diego-and did not seem to care how the travellers