The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-12

gion is closely guarded by the Spaniards.
1t is a breeding, place for the revolutions,
and the little III surrections that constantly
spring up in the majority of the cases orig
mate here-a dt ISOLATE enough place too.
Manv-ove swamp 8 encompass the bay and
are infested with ,herons. The tide falling
discloses the black mud and oysters cling
ing to the roots oftthe trees. Alligatots are
found in the depths, and during the rainy
season mosquitoes swarm by millions. Eight
miles inland is q RANGE of mountains very
thickly wooded.
At the entrance to, the bay, browning a
hill, are the remains' of a fort which is
rarely occupied. But at the lowerend of
the bay, squatting. as it may be- on the
edge of the swamp in the midst'of buzzing
mosquitoes and squawking h~serons. is a
dock and shedtwhere military can always
be seen. Five miles inland are some bar
racks where the officers live. A 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 wouL think
that this is the most dangerous locality
in all Cuba. In the mountains, whose out
line can be plainly seen, is many a rebel,
who is perfectly secure from the authori-
ties. There is d world Of romance locked
up in these woody hai lights.
CuDans look to the'U nited States,for aid.
They trust that some time they will be in
& position to OfierA themselves and the is
land to our nation. But the day'is as vet
far off.
Aside from the political character that
attends the Cuban majorityiin Kew West
there Is a mercantile phase totthe question.
Everybody knows about the excellence of
Key West cigars. Now thist 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 by the Kew
West manufacturers This of course ap-
plies in a general'way, and Cubans 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
watchfulness Of the United Suites officials
there is an enormous amount of the weed
%smuggled into Key West. This is done in
various ways. by tricks well known to the
customs officers. l was instructed by q
stranger whom | met at Key West to 20
into Il coffee house to buy my cigarettes,
and to be sure to ask for some without
stamps" He told me that / could obtain
them at 80 cents a real, while the usual
price was $l.20. did as he suggested. I
entered a dirty little shanty, asked for Gig
arettes without stamps" But unfortu-
nately three companions greedily followed
me in. and the proprietor, a villainous look
ing scamp, assured me he had none of the
articles such as | wanted.
A comrade of mine, however, later went
to a coffee house, and following the in
structions that I had received, soon DOS
sessed a real of cigarettes on which there
was no government stamp. They were
manufactured i'll Havana (the number and
street have escaped my memory andIwere
smuggled into America. Strangers, and
natives, 100, 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 a nickle. assure
you if you buy them you viii never regret
1t. They are equal to the best you can OBJ
tain at reputable establishments.