Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-26

many minor objects of interest. Beginning
with the first of the seven departments into
which the island is divided, that of Baya-
mon: in this section We find, not far
distant from San juan the remains of the
first Spanish settlement, Capafra, now
called Pueblo Viejo, the ancient town
and to which one might we'll pay visit OF
sentiment.
Natural Wonders.
In Rio Pedras, reached by a tramway. is
the governor generals summer palace, with
fine gardens of tropical plants and trees
In the township of Lola there is a great
waterfall. which precipitates it's waters
from a gap between two gigantic pinnacle
rocks and which sends forth a stream of
much volume, which disappears in a hole
in a wall of rock. and probably plunges to
subterranean depths. Near the same town.
also, there is a vast cave, called THE cave
of the Indians, from the skeletons that
have been found here.
In the valley of Arecibo, about twelve
kilometers from the town of that name
CONNECTED by railroad with San JUAN, eX-
lists a curious cave which opens in the face
of a vertical rock. said to be 800 feet in
height. After drawing aside the brambles
that conceal the entrance the visitor finds
himself in the first of u series of caVerns,
divided by arches, hung with most beauti-
fui staiactites. One of these chambers is at
least 100 feet across, and at its entrance
stands colossal hgure resembling the
statue of Il human being.
In the province of Utuado are three beau
tiful cascades, Known as the Sato de Mo-
rones, Saltillos and CanaliZos which are
well worth visiting. In the district of Ca
guiana is a cavern called the "Cueva de los
Muertos,'' because when discovered it con-
tanned human skeletons, and Was probably
a cemetery of the ancient Indians. Aqua
di!la. on the west coast, IS famous for its
perpetual fount and stream of purest wa
ter, which gushes forth from d hillside and
flows through the streets of ~the town.
II.., n
his caravals and ships, when, on his second
| voyage, he discovered Porto Rico
Caves and Waterfalls.
In the province of San Sebastian are two
great caves, in the district of Guajateca
and Enea, a waterfall known as the Col
lazo, thermal waters in the district of Po-
zas, and a swift stream called the Soma
dor" because of the noise it makes in times
of rains. In the province OF Lares is a
cave of large dimensions called the Pajita,
locally very famous; while in that of Maya
guez-which, by the way, contains a very
attractive city of the same name-in the
Rio Canas is cascade of great beauty
The province of Cabo Rojo contains the
natural salt deposits, or salinas, hitherto
considered state property. In Sabana
Grande is a cascade worth looking at, and
in the district of Rayo a spring of water
said to be very efIicacious in hydrocele and
other complaints. In the districts of Ca
guabo and Playa, province of Anasco, are
to be found the remains of ancient settle
ment, probably aboriginal, and specimens
Ot pyrteS and marcaSite.
1t was in this province, at the ford of the
river Anasco, Guaroba, that the Indians
tried that curious experiment of holding
SDaniard's head under water for hours to
prove whether or not he was immortal.
They found that he was not, and, having
made their report to the cacique Agueyna-
ba, the latter at once went on the Warpath
against the Spariards under Ponce de Leon.
Near the city of Ponce, two and q half
kilOmeters to the northeast, are the famous
baths of Quintana. which celebrated
in the island and in Spain for their cures.
Mountain Resorts.
In Barros is fine waterfall, and in Bar
ranquitas another, in the rainy season.
Two locally popular mountain resorts are
Adjuntas and Aybonito, the former fifteen
miles from Ponce and 100 feet above sea
level: the latter on the central highway
| from Ponce to San Juan, nearly 5000 feet
above the sea, and used as an acclimat TIA
ton station by the Spaniards, the climate
being very fine. Cayey is another noun
tain settlement a favorite summer retreat,
as 1t lies at an elevation of 300 feet above
sea level CoamO, which taken by
American troops III August last, has
wonderful ralmedicai spring, which
supplies the numerous baths Of estab-
iishment which has long existed here,
known as lnc 1itNOS t.OdmOS. ne
temperature of the water is about 40 de-
grees ccntigrade, and it contains, accord
ing to Spanish analysis, carbonic acid,
sulph-hydric acid, chOro-hy dric acid, carbon
ate of lime suphate OF lime. magaesia, iron,
etc. II is clear and lmpid, with a power
full sulphurous odor, and CUISINES forth in
great volume.
CommendabIe Practice.
1t is to be hoped that the practice will
be continued which has always prevailed
here, of having certain of the baths placed
at low prices so as to be within the reach
of poor as we'll rich The jurisdiction of
Juana Diaz contains the mineral waters of
Catoni, which are not only in use locally
for bathing, but are bottled and sold in
Ponce, being efiicacious in stomach trou-
bles. Not far away is great cavern, in
the district of Guyabal.
Perhaps the most wonderful of these
natural caverns is the group known
Aguas Buenas, comprising three caves.
Through one of them, known as La Oscura,
course subterranean stream for more
than POO feet. The others are called La
Clara and La Hermita.
The Indians made use of these dark caves
hiding places from the Spanards when
the latter We're pursuing them to their
death. In some of them-aS we have seen
have been found Indian skeletons, and in
others the peculiar manufactures of the
red men, consisting mainly of stone i'm
plements and curious pottery. Gold, for
the acquisition of which the Spaniards
bounded the Indians to DEATH is still found
in the sands Of the river Luquillo, in the
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