The Republican journal., 1898-12-22


Sierra Maestro (''Master Mountain'') as a
| continuous chain, extending from Point
Maisi at the eastern tip of the island, to
Cabo San Cruz-the cape which forms the
heel OF the boot, so to say, in the instep
of which Santiago is located. Though
the Spaniards are adopts in embellishing
pictures of their possessions, there has
never yet been reliable map of Cuba,
produced from triangulation survey. The
master Mountain stands from five to
ten miles inland; and between them and
the sea stretch two distinct ranges of
hills, neither of which come down to
tide water.
The tall, bare cliffs in the foreground
are part of the uniform series of benches
and terraces peculiar to Cuba and firing
ing its entire circuit of 2, 500 miles. Be :
ginning with a submerged coral reef, they
rise from fifteen to fifty feet. Back of
them comes a second bench, or terrace.
rising nowhere more than $50 feet; and
above that, a third, averaging 300 feet in
height. As the dark Maestro mountains
sweep grandly to the east of Santiago, so
the no less stately Copper range stretches
away to the westward, to their abrupt
termination at Cabo de San Cruz. Steam
ers stand some distance out from shore.
to avoid the dangerous reefs and keys.
But they go near enough for passengers
to catch charming glimpses of low hills
wrapped in mist and peaceful coves edged
with cocoa palms. The only other usual
hating place on the southern coast of
Cuba is Cienfuegos. The harbor of the
City of a hundred fires is so securely
hidden behind wooded keys that it's ship
ping is not visible except at close range.
1t is matter of recent history that when
Commodore Schley came this way in
search of the Spanish fleet, he thought he
deserted the masts of Cevera's vessels Sc
creted among these islands; and he was
man@uvering to get his own ships in un-
observed, when the insurgents brought
him word that the game had taken refuge
elsewhere.
| did not 60 ashore at Cienfuegos on this
trip, having visited the place twice before,
and intending to come down later by rail
from Havana. Then out to sea we went
again, away down below Isla del Pinos. the
only island of consequence among the hun
dreds that encompass the Queen of the
Antilles. 1t is nearly square in form, per
haps sixty miles long by fifty broad, and
of exceedingly picturesque appearance.
Two dark hill ranges cross it from east to
west, with wide, green valleys between:
great swamp, OF jungle, of densest vege-
tation divides it in twain, and on all sides
rivers seek the sea, some of them naviga-
bic for several miles. The island is famous
for its pine forest and beautiful marbles.
its salubrious climate and wonderful Their
NAL springs. 1t is already a favorite san
itarium, and Cubans believe that short
residence here is an unfailing panacea for
consumption. AS it is only 90 miles due
south from Havana-goirg by rail across
little port of Batabano, it is bound to be
developed in the near future under Amer
lean rule This is the island that Column
bus discovered on June day OF 1894 and
chnstened La Evangelista Three centu-
ries later it rejoiced under the name of
''Riena Amalia,'' and gained its present
cognomen because of the beautiful pine
groves which fill the air with pungent
odoIs. We are accustomed to think OF
pine trees as growing only in cold cour-
tries and upon mountain tops, but here
they flourish to perfection among the
palms and cact. 1t is singular fact that
the pine family, though peculiarly a north
ern product, has several species which
grow best in torrid lowlands
To the north and east of Isla del Pinos
the sea is dotted with the archipelagoes of
Los Canarios and Baneo de los Jardines,
innumerable tiny islands, each an ''emer-
aid gem in the ring of the wave" TRAY
cling among them is unalloyed delight
The boat winds in and out the labyrinthne
channels, over waters blue and luminous
as tibet ropic skies, and SO beautifullytrans
lucent that star-tish lying on the silvery
bottom, or sea flowers growing leagues
below, look as though seen through glass.
The air is indescrbaby balmy, the same
in summer as in winter, and the eyes are
continually Toasted upon the beauty of
verdure clad shores and distant mountains
yelled in clouds, the Guanahaga, or ''Gold-
en- Range of the aborigines.
Our course from the Isle of Pines was
the same as Cortez took, toward that
part of the horizon where the sun set:''
and our next stopping place was the same
as his, on the coast of Yucatan. Progreso.
the Mexican port, is certainly far from
carrying out the idea its name implies
having made no progress worth mention
ing in almost four hundred years of
Spanish occupancy. Why, oh why, in
all these treeless ports, where Sol pours
down his tiercest rays from year to year,
do the natives persist in painting every
thing snow white, at the risk of blindness