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

QaV1SaDl6 IOr SIudt1 CIdiG. 1dO ooAJ
other rivers deserving Of mention are
the Sagua Grande and the Sagua Chica,
neither Of which is navigable even for
small boats but for few weeks after
the rainy season has ended. Springs
and streams of exquisitely pure water
are to be found in great abundance. The
number of caves and grottoes found cir
cling over pools of limpid water is re-
markable, and adds an additional charm
to the beauty of such localities.
In the mountains there are many
beautiful waterfalls, among which the
cascades of Rosario are the most ceIe-
brated. A number of medium sized
lakes, fringed with trees or verdant
grassy slopes, add variety and beauty
to the scenery in the interior of the is
land. They are well supplied with varl-
Gus finely favored fish and, together
with the natural fruits and vegetables,
furnish the dwellers in these delightful
regions with their subsistence without
the necessity of much work.
Profuse as is the bounty of nature dis
PLAYED in the vegetable world, there are
no large animals of any kind indigenous
to the island. When Columbus landed,
he only found two quadrupeds, and
those of a small size-one, a sort OF
barkless dog, probably raccoon, and a
long bodied squirrel. Many imported
domestic animals. such as the horse,
pig, goat, cat, the dog, and even cattle,
in the course of time ran wild, and are
to be found in great numbers IN the
densest parts of the forests. The dog es-
pecialIy has been much modified by his
new habitat, and has dwindled, on the
one hand, to the Havanese toy spaniel,
and developed in another direction into
the enormous Molasso, which only a
few years back was constantly employ
ed in the inhuman sport of hunting
runaway slaves.
In periods, doubtless long antedatlng
the advent of man upon the island mas.
todons, elephants, appropriateness and
other large animals roamed through the
Cuban forests or wallowed in its Ia
eoons Their fossil remains are occa-
sionally dug up, after having been en-
tombed in rocky graves for unknown
centuries Of time.
A small red asp, said to have been
imported from santo Domingo, infests
many Of the sugar plantations, and its
bite is exceedingly dangerous The
scorpions in Cuba are very undesirable
neighbors, ard though their bites have
not been known to result fatally they
are attended by rather serious conse-
quences. A large boa is also occasion
ally to be met with, but it is not at all
dangerous. Some members of the bat
family attain an enormous size, the
leathery wings measuring from foot
to foot and half from tip to tip
They are visitors occasionally to apart
ments, which they enter through the
open doors and windows. They are un-
canny locking intruders and are regard
ed as i'll omened, though not otherwise
Objectionable.
No account of Cuban reptiles would
be complete without some mention OF
the iguana. This large green lizard,
arboreal in its habits, which lives on
fruits. It is extensively used as an ar
ticle Of food and has been declared pal
atable and nutritious. The alligator
and cayman are also frequently to be
met with in tine rivers and deep lagoons.
More than 200 species of indigenous
birds, exclusive Of the domestlcated
kind, are known, many of them remark
able for the richness of thei: plumage.
Of migratory birds the ducks OF Florida,
or del norte, are the most numerous.
The indigenous huyuyo is miniature
of the English duck and is Of splendid
plumage.
If there are but few obnoxious rep
tiles in Cuba, the lack of these is amply
compensated for by a surprising mum
ber of disagreeable insects of various
kinds. The mosquitoes are large and
specially venomous and obtrusive, and
there are also irritating "jiggers, ants,
wasps, lnidges and spiders as large as
the crown of a mans hat. A member
Of the bee family known as the "veg-
etable bee'' is most remarkable in
sect. It is very much handicapped by
nature. for it has to carry an umbrella
shaped fungus of the clavara tribe on
its back. The cucullo, monster frefy,
emits bright streams Of light from two
ewes on his back and one In his breast.
Three of these creatures inclosed in a
glass would give sufficient light to IL
Illuminate moderate sized apartment.
The climate of Cuba, considering il
is in the tropics, is very tolerable, and
srom November till May is quite en-
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