The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-08-08
QUAINT SIGHTS In CUBA
PECULIAR ROADS AND CURIOUS
CUSTOMS ON THE ISLANDS.


Coffee, Cigars aud Kind Wishes.
Describing some of the quaint sights
witnessed on a trip through Cuba, a
correspondent of the Worcester Spy
says: We crossed two rivers on our
journey, the Sio del Gaaratre, where two
massive unfinished arches told of the
splendid Improvements underway quar-
ter of a century ago and the Rio Cana,
whose margins for leagues bristle with
wild cane, from which whistles, baskets
and bird cages arc made for the Havana
markets, when we left the lower shore
side region for the upland district. For
the whole distance on every hand were
flowers and luXurant verdure, broken
only by the cleared grounds about lowly
and once noble hacendas and the
reaches of cultivated fields Of the estan-
cias, or plantations, devoted to general
farming. One could see from the road
side alone anones, mamoncillos, man
goes, guanabanas, nisperos, cultivated
and wild oranges, tamarinds, ba-
nanas, carmitos, mammees. zapota and
pineapples, while the stately star of
Bethlehem, the mignonette, the vinca
the golden Jasmine, the hibiscus,
the galen de noche the flaming
fiamboyant, the star cactus, the Carolina
tree, the campanile, the Cherokee, Mare
chal Neil and cape rose, the jacquemnot
jonquil and lilies OF the valley the wild
pea, honeysuckle and heliotrope, and
myriads more of the almost unnameable
fora of Cuba, dazzled the eye with color
and filled the air with matchless frag-
rance. But true to the bitter contrasts
everywhere noticeable in the island, the
road itself was execrable beyond descrip-
ton.
They are all alike Though usually
inclosed, as are the American country
roads, they are utterly impossible for
any manner of vehicles. Indeed, no
vehicles are used in Cuba, save in the
large cities. In this region, agricultur-
ally the richest portion of the island, the
needs between hundreds upon hundreds
of great plantations aud Trinidad have
been met by ''packingsn on the backs of
ponies and mules for over 200 years =
and during one-fourth of the time the
road are altogether impossible. Every
sack of coffee, every pound of food, every
article of furniture, has always been
'packed" back and forth in this shift
less manner.
The roads crook and turn to avoid
obstacles just as the Cuban will do six
days labor to avoid one. "Beware the
pantanosln was the warning from every
tongue throughout the day. These
''pantanos" are sinks in the clay soil
where one animal will plunge from per-
fectly solid footing fairly out of sight.
We rescued five animals so mired with
their muddy panniers aud packs, for
dolorous and grateful pilgrims during
the day. The ''pantanos" are bad
enough, but the desechos literally, re-
fusals; avoidances) are worse. These
are always cut around impossible places
involving careful riding through bogs
and junges, and not infrequent goings
astray in the dense forests.
The fences of these remarkable
''roads" arc curious affairs. Frequently
they are of the Spanish bayonet and the
hemequen with bread leaf and barbed
point six inches long, strong enough to
impale horse. Again, strips of stone
fence will be seen. Some are of the
pima de ration or bastard pine apple tree
But the larger number are of phones
botija. Green limbs are cut from this,
and when thrust in the ground grow in
stantly and luxuriously. Between the
branches the vejuco de augarIlla, a
hardy vine, is planted. This weaves it.
self through and through the hedge in
all manner of fantastic and tightening
freaks; and as it bears a lovely purple
blossom, this fence is always strikingly
beautiful to the eye.
The overfowing hospitality of all
classes of Cubans had remarkable illus
tration upon our journey along the road,
singly or in persistent groups, the oc.
cupants begged us to enter and tarry
with them. If it were but for a moment,
for greeting, good. If for little chat
ter and 'coffee," better. Ifit could have
been for a week or q month, best. And
this was the never ending form of greet
ing and invitation from the head of the
house as he awaited us upon the high
way:
'Buenos dias, camara.' ("Good day,
citizen.n1
"BaenOs dias, amigo" (''GoOd day,
my friend.")
'Hasta donde, bueno" C''How far,
good sirsq')
Boy, al Aguacate." (''To the Aqua
cate district")
"Nenga tomar cafe. listed va muy
leJos" ("1ou 90 too far kemain with
me for coffee and rest.")
Again, being out of matches and de-
string light for our cigars, drawing up
before a casa da vivienda, Don Manuel
would shout
La paz de Dios sea en- esta casa!"
C'The peace of God upon your houserJ
''Y venga con voz % C"Come you
with that blessingl" is answered back.
''Hagame el favor de darme candela. ("
("Fayor me with light')
''Desmontesen y tomen cafe fuego."
(Dismount aud receive both coffee and
fire y
And there is no escape. Coffee as
well as light must be taken, else the
guest is committing grave oiTense. Then
as you depart, and there is no exception
TO this, you are followed back to tho
road with blessings innumerable by the
whole family, and eager muchachos run
after US to show the safer way.