Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-03-21
LANDSCAPES or CUBA.
It's Most Beautiful Districts seldom SCI
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by visitors.
A good deal depends upon the season
OF the year in which Cuba is visited as
TO the impression produced touching
its verdure. Columbus reached Bara-
Goa just as the autumn rains had done
their work Of magic revival. The
northern visitor OF to-day goes TO
Cuba in the dry season, when the green
hillside has become changed TO tawny
brown. The change in the appearance
of the landscape Is about as great as IL
is possible for such a change to be.
One of the chief items Of disappoint-
ment in the Cuban scenery is the alb
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 cciba silk cotton tree) is in evil
dence-solitary and desolate looking.
But the trees are generally small, and
whnt the Cuban calls wood, man
from Indiana would describe as
"brush." IL is little more than a
tangled Wilderness. A generous com
pensation. however, is found In the
never-failing beauty and great variety
of 'feathery palms" Among the first
features of the landscape to arrest the
eye of the traveller. they are about the
last thing to fade from his memory.
To them there attaches a sort of charm
that belongs To no other kind of
growth. Almost every variety is here
TO be met with, and one soon discov-
ers that the palm is as useful as 1t is
beautiful Pleasant TO the eye, II also
furnishes material for building, for
wrappers, for clothing and even for
food.
When the fora of Cuba is under con-
sideration, language can hardly be too
afiluent or too eulogistic II only a
moderate amount of care were given to
culture and arrangement, this island
would be a veritable paradise of floral
loveliness. This, unfortunately, is not
the case. Disorder is supreme. Here
and there "a well-ordcred garden" at
tests the richness of the soil and the
kindliness of the climate, and the
best results of horticulture are not in
frequently those of the Chinese gar
dener. IL is unnecessary to catalogue;
indeed, IL is well-nigh impossible. Any
and every growth known in tropical
climes can be brought TO perfection in
the fertile soil and under the sunny
skies of Cuba.
But Cuba is not all beautiful. Be-
tween Havana and Cienfuegos there
may be encountered extensive stretches
of country as dull and uninviting as
any know in any part of the world.
The poverty-stricken dwellings of the
Cuban peasantry add 20 the unpleasing
aspect of the scenery.
The most beautiful districts of Cuba
are those which are least known TO
visitors; refer to the mountain dis
tricts. These are little likely TO be-
come known until better roads and
better accommodations are provided,
and until the risk which sometimes
attends excursions into solitary places
ceases to terrify. Brigandage. as such,
can hardly be said TO exist in Cuba,
but the attitude of certain organized
outlaws is sufficient to suggest caution.
| owe IL 10 the courtesy of one of the
directors Of Jaragua that / became ac-
quainted with what proved to be the
finest of all the scenery / beheld in
Cuba. Certainly the established routes
of travel must be departed from If the
choicest aspects of the island are to be
enjoyed. Here, among the hills and
valleys Of the TERRA de Cuba, as also
in the district lying north Of Trinidad
de Cuba, no question can arise as to
the beauty Of Cuba
Most OF the coast scenery of the. ISL
and is very fine. while around the spa
cious harbors for which Cuba l. ia
nous may be found spots Of sylvan
loveliness. From Cape Cruz to Cape
Mayzi an enchanting panorama comes
into view from the steamers deck, in
cluding Torquino 5000 feet. the
loftiest mountain o. Cuba.-N. Y. Chris
tian Advocate.