The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-05-16
No. 49,.
LANDSCAPES OF CUBA.
~" Hhost beautiful Districts Seldom Seei
by Visitors. "

A'a most Beautiful Districts Seldom Seen
by Visitors.
A good deal depends upon the season
Oh the year in which Cuba is visited as
70 the Impression produced touching
fts verdurc. Columbus reached Bnra-
Goa just as the autumn rains had done
their work of magic revival. The
northern visitor OF TODAY roes to
Cuba In the dry season, when tho green
hillside has become changed to tawny
brown. The change in the appearance
OF the landscape is about as great as it
IS possible for such n change to be.
One of the chief items Of disappoint-
ment in the Cuban scenery is the ab.
sence of the outrageous woodlands.
In the famous Valley of Yumuri, and
In some less known localities, fine trees
may be seen. and almost everywhere ,
the cetba (silk cotton trcc) is in cyi-
dcnco--solitary and dcsolate looking.
i'ut tho trees arc generally sn Ill, and
what tho Cuban calls a wood, n man
from Indiana would e.cscribc M
brush" 1t is little more than
t"hglod wilderness. n generous com
| pensation, however, is found in tho
never-failing beauty and great variety
OF 1eathcry palms" Among tho first
features Of the landscape to arrest tho
/ oyo OF the traveller, they arc about tho
last thing to fade from his memory.
To them there attaches Il sort of charm
that belongs to no other kind Of
growth. Almost every variety is hero
to DO met with, and one soon discov-
ers that the palm is as useful as it is
beautiful. Pleasant to the eye, it also
furnishes material for building, for
Wrappers. for clothing and even for
food,
When the flora of Cuba is under con-
sideration, language can hardly be too
afiuent or too eulogistic. If only Il
moderate amount OF care were given to
culture and arrangement, this island
would bo vcritablo paradise Of floral
loveliness. This, unfortunately, is not
the case. Disorder is supreme. Hero
and there N well-ordcrcd garden" Mt
tests the richness Of the soil and tho
klndliness OF the climate, and tho
best results of horticulture arc not in
frequently those Of the Chinese gar
dener, 1T Is Unnecessary to catalogue;
indeed, 1t is well-nigh impossible. Any
ana every growth known in tropical
climes can be brought to perfection in
tho fertile soil and under tho sunny
skies Of Cuba.
But Cuba is not all beautiful. Be-
tween Havana and Cicnfucgos there
may be encountered extensive stretches
OF country rs dull and uninviting as
any know in any part Of the world.
Tho poverty stricken dwellings, Of the
Cuban pcasantry add to the unpleusing
aspect of the scenery.
The most beautiful districts Of Cubn
arc those which arc least known to
visitors; | refer to tho mountain dis
tricts These arc littlo likely to be-
come known until better roads and
better accommodations are provided,
and until tho risk which sometimes
| attends excursions into solitary places
ceases to tcrrify. Brigandagc, as such,
can hardly be said to exist in Cubn,
but the attitude Of certain organized
outlaws Is sufficient to suggest caution.
/ owe it to the courtesy of one of tho
directors Of Jaragun that became ac-
quainted with what proved to bo tho
finest Of all the scenery I bcheld in
Cuba. Certainly the established routes
Of travel must be departed from If tho
choicest aspects of the island arc to bo
enjoyed, Here, among the hills and
valleys Of tho TERRA dc Cuba, as also
In tho district lying north Of Trinidad
de Cuba, no question can arise us to
the beauty Of Cuba.
Most Of tho const scenery Of the ISL
and is very fine, while around the spa
cioua harbors for which Cuba is fa~
NOUS may he found spots Of sylvan
loveliness From Cape Cruz to Cape
Mayzi oil enchanting panorama comes
into Wow from the steamers deck, in
Guiding Torquino 5000 fcet), tho
loftiest mountain Of Cuba-N. Y. Chriss
tian Advocate.