The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-10-03
Flores.

,rR 0lpi LIS
d, correspondence of The journal. /
CRUZ, Flores Island, Sept. 1st,
This queerest little capital l ever
across occupies site which seems
-, been planned by nature on pur-
=, the principal town Of the island.
,on describe it to you, when ink
.ae; tail to convey any idea of its
ontlines and strange combinations
,o,a Everywhere Flores bears strong
II. Of its igneous origin and most of
,r.s are totally inaccessible from
,ea being environed by reefs and
II black lava, cliffs of red cinders
b,oalate colored earth, mountains
l., abruptly out of the water, lofty
,,iees dark with verdure, down
streams fall in silver threads to
.f,l below. In some places the cliffs
.saril hundred feet high, and others
onae Town to few yards.
rse whole rests apparently upon sheets
mack lava, the lowest visible layer of
onposite parts, which, having run
IA 'he SEA i'll a melted state, was sud :
Stopped, cooled and shaped into
necivable variety of Jagged,
I'm .ta-ulll rocks, among which tie
toA rolls with ceaseless violence.
M caads Of spray over the sharp
aetil us land breaking with mighty
i. oa tAe huge, detached masses that
1ia coasts. Above the lava are the
ulo products, such as deep, loose
4 d s.9nia, baked red as bricks,
esd fy a firm brown turf: above this,
embossed vegetable soil covered with
Eeaast Aeebage, and over all the bluest
that ever arched a bit Of t1owery
I'LL Where Santa Cruz, the capital
edet port of Flores, stands Il stream
ay lowing to the sea has formed a
iceel platform, about two miles
M Aalf as broad, upon which the
UlElt Three sides of this flat
[moatorN are exposed to the sea, the
Fl. Banked by a high, abrupt hill, its
d achis cultivated, its summit over
Ta witll cedars and crowned with an
gli pwer. Subsequent erupt;ons
h ls9efed the lava with loose volcanic
|uel, taft and cinders, forming fruitful
where good crops Of corn, wheat,
Eatoes, lax and vegetables are grown.
town has a few long, struggling
bets nest OF them converging into a
sqaafe' At the foot Of the princi-
erect Is IL little cove and beach, where
zstermen boats are hauled up. In
T0t the cove is a bar of lava, connect
Efa the jagged rocks on each side. a
passage. capable of admitting an
asized schooner, leads over the bar,
is hemned in and screened from
j and waves by high walls of brown
lDe Gown covers a very large space,
euag Its seanty population, for
intervene between many of the
ss some of them are perched upon
lis So close to the edge that their
lefually overhang the water, We
that it is not uncommon for chill
ld even grown people to fall over
sclpiee to the rocks below, general
fatal effect. Indeed, the dangers
locality are the stock in trade Nf
may Vi beggals that beset the strang-
santa truz. The houses are all
Stones never more than two Stoi-
sh and oftener but oue. They have
a6ably thick walls, always white
LED outside. tiled OF furse- matched
-reen doors and heavy, rude
n9 balconies. with green Venetian
il the Moorish style. All the
rs are set close upon the border of
sueel- that is, with no yard. OF space
mont Of them; and whenever a field or
Fl spot comes between, there high
n wall is built, SO that in walking
" he town you see little except what
mediately before and behind. The
Aoof Of the larger houses is seldom
ENted, being used for stores or work
N' In the rear of the ground floor
~ light of stairs, in the older houses
US OF black stone, polished by long
T. leads up to the living apartments.
II the front DOORS have bells and
lew Of them brass knockers; SO when
aeslfe admittance, your knuckles or
OF big umbrella handle come into
psas play, unless you aspire to be
wy IN style from the Azorean stand
IL N which case you clap your hands
'1@Ig a. possible. There are no side
and everybody perambulates in the
i q the street, where the pavement
s4ally the natural rock, the edges of
y nave been planed off by the passage
lpl4h feet. At nearly every corner is
T'iq fountain, where dark eyed olive
''a hebeccas are always filling their
i2e Jars; and near by other women
'uoong clothes by the wayside on
zones over which water splashes
Vamhoo spout set in the solid rock,
pV oca and social life of Santa Cruz
y little to be said. People wander
ne streets in a listless sort of way,
:" 'Vereome with the Lothian air of