The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-02

THE CUBAN IGUANA-NOT AT ALL PRETTY,
But VERY PALATABLE-
ing. Soon after they landed on the is
land the Spaniards began the inhuman
tactics that have largely characterized
their policy ever since. The extinction
of the native population led to the in
reduction Of negroes to work on the
plantations. This importation of negroes
continued for centuries, until now the
ibnlk Oh Che population is composed OF
that race.
q During the latter part Of the six
seenth century and during most Of the
Seventeenth Cuba suffered greatly from
the attacks Of the buccaneers. In 1717
q revolt against the Spanish admins
traters of the island broke out in conse-
auenee of the attempt Of the govern
1nenS to establish tobacco monopoly.
Since then there have been series OF
reYolts and instructions against the
Spanish rulers, but all eff them proved
abortiYe until the last just closed,
which would probably have ended like
all the rest, but for the humane inter
ference Of the United States.
Cuba, the Pearl Of the Antilles, is
the largest, the most important and the
wealthiest island Of the West Indian
archipelago. It lies at the entrance to
the gulf Of Mexico and forms an irreg-
ular curve of about 9C0 miles in length,
5 extending from Cape Maysi on the east
! 30 Cape San Antonio on the. west. Its
width varies from 20 to 135 miles, and
its area, including dependencies,
amounts to 1928 square miles.
The island is intersected by range
OF mountains, more CT less broken,
which extends through it from east to
west and from which the rivers de-
scend to the sea on each side. From
( Cane Maysi to Cape Cruz the range
called the Sierra Maestro skirts the
southern shore for distance Of 200
miles. At the west end of the island
the mountains also approach the coast.
Among these ranges lie fertile valleys,
some of which are 200 miles long and
80 broad. The highest peaks in the
Sierra Maestro range, and in fact IN the
island. are Pico Turquino, rising 6, 900
feet above the level of the sea, and La
Gran Piedra, which ascends to height
Of 5, zoo feet.
The mountain regions of Cuba are ex-
sremely picturesque, but very sparsely
settled, and for the most part little
known. A person might travel for
weeks in these solitudes and never see
q human habitation or any evidence
that man had ever been there. Their
slopes are usually covered by forests
and dense jungles, whose vegetation,
constantly moistened by innumerable
streams arr brooks and by the rains
and dews, is rankly luxuriant. Inn
mense mineral wealth is supposed to be
hidden in the bowels Of these noun
sains, but so far copper is the only
metal that has been mined to any con-
siderable extent.
The entire coast Of Cuba, it might be
said, is protected by rocky reefs and
muddy shadows, which in many IN
stances stretch far out into the sea-
These are exceedingly dangerous ano
have proved fatal to large vessels as
well as to smaller craft. On many parts
of the coast the sea is very deep quite
close inshore and affords excellentN bar
bors for vessels plying on the busiest
sea road in the western hemisphere.
There are many islands lying Oft the
coast of Cuba, the largest and most I'M
portant being the Isle of Pines, fa-
NOUS health resort. Epidemics are un-
known on this favored spot, and its in
habitants are secure from the attacks
of yellow fever. Many wealthy Cubans
dive here, and delightful villas and ele-
giant residences are frequently seen
.ensconced in palm and pine groves aud
surrounded by gorgeous frinses OF flow
.ers For some unaccountable reason the
pine tree of our northern regions flour
ishes to perfection in this delightful
isle. It's presence there may have some.
thing to do with the salubriousness o.
the place.
Almost every part of Cuba is supplied
with fresh and generally pure water.
There are many rivers, but none oi
them is of great length, except the Lam
to, which. rising in the Sierra Maestro,