Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-11

gion is closely guarded by the Spaniar,ls,
1t is breeding place for the revolutions,
and the little instructions that constantly
spring up in the majority of the cases orig
mate here-a deSolate enough place too.
Mangrovc swamps encompass the bav and
are infested with herons The tide falling
discloses the black mud and oysters cling
ing to the roots of the trees. Alligaturs arc
found in the depths, and during the rainy
season mosquitoes swarm by millions Eight
miles inland is a range of mountains very
thickly wooded.
At the entrance to the bay, crowning a
hill, are the remains of n fort which is
rarely occupied. But nj the lower end of
the bay, squatting. as it may be. Ou the
edge of the swamp in the midst of buzzing
mosquitoes and Squawking heruns. i a
dock and shed where military can always
be seen. Five miles inland are some bar
racks where the officers live. \ more dis
agreeable place to be sent to is hard to
imagine. The poor, ignorant people who
exc out an existence in the region seem
incapable of mischief. No one would think
that this is the most dangerous locality
in all Cuba. In the mountains, whose out
line can be plainly seen, is many rebel,
who is perfectly secure from the authori-
ties. There is n world Of romance locked
up in these woody heights
Cubans look to the United States for aid
They trust that some time they will be in
a position to offer themselves and the is
land to our nation. But the day : AS vet
far off
Aside from the political character that
attends the Cuban majority in Key West
there is n mercantile phase To the question.
Everybody knows about the excellence of
Key West cigars. Now this tobacco is sent
over from Cuba The only reason that the
Key West cigar has claims to superiority
over New York productions is that better
tobacco is obtained cheaper 10y the Key
West manufacturers This Of course ap-
plies in a general way, and Cuhans assent
to the truth Of it.
| inferred from a chance remark made to
me by an American resident Of Key West
that CubanS must have facilities for OBJ
tanning the tobacco in Key West that are
not available farther north. Despite the
watch!u,ucss OF the United States officials
there j an enormous amount Of tie weed
struggled into Key Wes' This is done in
various ways. by tricks we'll known 10 the
customs officers. | was instructed by
stranger whom met at Key West to go
into coffee house to buy my cigarettes,
and TO be sure to ask for some without
stamps" He told me that | could obtain
them at 50 cents Il real, while the usual
price was $l.2O. did as he suggested /
entered dirty little shanty, asked for Gig
arettes without stamps" But unfortu-
nately three companions greedily followed
me in, and the proprietor, a Viilaiuous look
ing scamp, assured me he had none of the
articles such as l wanted.
\ comrade of mine, however, later went
to a coffee house, and following the in
structious that l had received, soon pos
sessed real of cigarettes on which there
was no government stamp. They were
manufactured in Havana (the number and
street have escaped my memory and'were
struggled into America. Strangers, and
natives, too, are frequently approached on
the street by "A negro or a Cuban, who has
his pockets stuffed full of cigars He offers
them to you at two for nickle. assure
sou if You buy them you will never regret
it. They are equal to the best You can OBJ
tain at equitable establishments.
ED l.. SABIS.