Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-09

| gion is closely guarded by the Spaniards.
| 1t is a breeding place for the revolutions,
and the little instructions that constantly
spring up in the ma ority of the cases orig
| mate here-a desolate enough place too.
Mangrove swamps encompass the bay and
are infested with herons. The tide falling
discloses the black mud and oysters cling
| ing to the roots of the trees. Alligators 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 q fort which is
| rarely occupied. But at the lower end of
| the bay, squatting as it may be, on the
| edge of the swamp in the midst of buzzing
mosquitoes and squawking heroils, is a
| dock and shed where 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 would think
that this is the most dangerous locality
| in all Cuba. In the mountains, whose out
| line can be plainly seen, is many u rebel,
who is perfectly secure from the authori-
| ties. There is Il 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 is = yet
far off.
Aside from the political character that
attends the Cuban majority in Key West
there is 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 by the Key
West manufacturers. This of course APP
plies in IA 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 States officials
there is an enormous amount of the weed
smuggled into Key West. This is done in
various ways. by tricks we'll known to the
customs officers. l was instructed by a
stranger whom met at Key West to 90
and to be sure to ask for some without
stamps" He told me that could obtain
them at so cents real, while the usual
price was s1.20. did as he suggested |
entered a dirty little shanty. asked for Gig
nrettes without stamps" But unfortu-
hately three companions greedily followed
me in. and the proprietor a yillainous look
ing scamp, assured me he had none of the
articles such as wanted
A comrade of mine, however later went
to coffee house, and following the in
structions that l had received, soon pos
sessed real of cigarettes en- which there
was no government stamp They were
manufactured in Havana (the number and
street have escaped my memory andlwere
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
you if you buy them you will never regret
it. They are equal to the best you car OBJ
tain at reputable establishments.
ED. L. SABIN.