The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-09
THE GIBItALTAR OE CUBA.
1hc Seat ofGovernment OF the Cuban
Republic IS Said to be Imprcg-
naDlc.

Cubitas, pronounced Koobetas, will
the accent on the second syllable
although almost unknown to the out
side world, is, for many reasons, ono
of the most important and most inter
estlng localities on the island Of Cuba
First, because it has been chosen fol
the seat Of government Of the Cuba1
republic, Second, because nature ha,
made it not only one of the most
beautiful places on the face of the
globe, but at the same time it is alb
solutely impregnable from the assault
OF any ordinary force which could be
brought to bear against it.
The Sierra de Cubitas is in fact
another Gibraltar, rising almost alb
ruptly from the beautiful rolling plains
of Jamaguey. Although spoken of as
the mountains'of Cubitas, lit is really al
elevated plateau, rising to an altitude
OF perhaps TOO feet and forming the
arc of u circle, with it's concave side
facing the Atlantic ocean, or rather
gators as the Old Bahama Channel.
This plateau, or table land, has a
length from east to west of about Is
miles, its width vary from one to
three miles. The view in any Girec.
tion is magnificent. Beautiful rolling
prairies, dotted with charming groves
of cocoanut and royal palmes, sweep
away from the base Of the Cubitas.
Twenty miles to the north can be seen
the dark blues of the sea.
10 the southwark lies that interest
ing relic of the 10th century, the city
OF Puerto Principe, with its Spanish
garrison OF 10000 soldiers. But they
never dream Of molesting the seat of
the Cuban government, although dis.
taht Only days march. The Spanish
commanders know too we'll that an at
tack on Cubitas would bring them
nothing but death and disaster The
place is defended today by less than
partment of General GARLIC, but even
If deprived of arms and ammunition
they could successfully defend this nat,
ural fortress with loose rocks picked
from the ground.
The approaches from the plain below
gradually terminate in narrow detiles,
which turn and twist, rise and fall,
until riders Of the nimble and sure
footed Cuban ponies are compelled to
dismount, and in single file lead their
animals to the top. A thousand points
of advantage could be found where
rocks, hurled down tho PERCEPTIONS
sides, would annihilate any enemy
sent against the place.
Nor could the defenders be starved
out. This beautiful and fertile plateau
is now under perfect cultivation. Here
are raised sweet potatoes, peas, beans,
sassaya, from which eXcellent bread is
made, and fruit grows in abundance
The table land of Cubitas is veritable
military garden, in which President
Clsneros takes very pardonable
pride. In fact, the majority of the in
surgents who garrison the place spend
most of their time tilling tho soil and
gathering the crops. When this duty
becomes irksome and soldier longs
for active service in the field, he is ex-
changed for some poor fellow who,
after weeks of hard riding, is glad OF
a little rest. Cubitas, with its superb
climate evenuin summer is an excellent
place in which to recover from irritat-
ing wounds and over-fatigue.
From the top Of this plateau Presi-
dent Cisneros and his cabinet admins
ter the laws of the new republic.
Couriers mounted on fleet Camaguey
horses, whose ancestors came over
from Arabia. come and go every hour
OF the day and night. In this way the
government is made aware Of every
movement anticipated or executed by
the various generals in command, and
orders are transmitted to them with
precision and dispatch.