The Republican journal., 1899-10-19

titt is enormous 1 can recommend vour uedi-
cine as it is a sure enre no hunhuS. as ara
most other patent medicines
Dr. Pierce's Pellets cure biliousuess.
Cuidad de = uestra Sonora de la Asuncion.
He created a bishopric of it, appointed civil
officers and fixed his own residence here;
but somehow the city never amounted to
much, though more favorable site can
not be found in Cuba. ON all Spanish
maps it still figures under the old high
sounding name, but the rest of the world
knows it as Baracoa 1t has now about
three thousand inhabitants, and is mpor-
tant only as shipping point of immense
quantities of pine apples. bananas and
cocoanuts. At certain seasons its bay is
crowded with fast sailing craft seeking
their cargoes: but there is no hotel in the
town, only wretched fonda fit neither
for man nor beast, and the average tourist
finds the halliday which the steamer re-
quires for discharging AMI receiving cargo
more time than he cares to spend here.
The town is completely surrounded by an
abrupt range Of hills-part of Sierra Nisse
chain. Back of them rise the mountains,
in one of which is d huge volcanic cavity
OF great depth and in the form of a crater,
but giving no evidence of volcanic origin.
Ii you have time for little jaunt into
the country, on horse back or en- volante,
Won will seq MANY ,,1,eA, +biprS in +la limo
of rural life in Cuba One of the fun
NEST Sights is that of countryman com
ing TO town on the back of a COW OF OK,
perhaps with two OF three members of his
animal from horns to tail, one OF the
party holding alOft huge palmleaf in lien
of IN umbrella The roads are often too
heavy for carts, and the farmer who is
not atfluent enough to own horse or
| mule has only to go out into the corral
and throw 4 sheepskin on the back Of the
first COW he catches, run a cord through
the ii on ring already in her nose, and the
family vehicle is ready.
At Baracoa the eonnoisseur in canes
may indulge his fancy in some odd speci-
mems one variety Is made from the skin
of the manati. OF sea lion, a strange
animal which frequents the coast marshes.
These canes, prepared in some way known
only to the natives, are very tough and
strong, though transparent and thin as a
| rapier Mounted in native silver they
cost here twelve or fifteen dollars each
but in Havana, if you find them at all,
they cannot be bought for less than $50
Another beautiful cane is made in these
coast villages from the shells of enormous
turtles. The shell is boiled to a thin
liquid and then strong, straight stick of
proper length is dipped into it, much as
our grandmothers made candles. After
being allowed to cool, the process is re-
peated again and again until the re-
quired thickness is obtained. Then,
when sufficiently hardened, the coating
is sand papered to fine polish, headed,
ferruled and is ready for market. It has
the appearance of solid tortoise shell.
and readily sells for five dollars
Twelve hours sailing from Baracoa
brings you to Gibara, a place of consid-
cradle consequence, being the port of the
interior town of Holgun and connected
Herewith by the old Canine Real. or
royal road The approach to Gibara is
extremely picturesque, numerous detached
mountains rising above low hills and greer
forests. The bay is open, but partially
sheltered from the white crested waves
rise the four tall peaks that Columbus
mentioned in his journal as conspicuous
landmarks" Though capacious. the bay
| is not deep enough to allow vessels to
come near its wharves; so they anchor
some distance ont and are loaded by
means of lighters. The entrance is garded
by tiny fort, whose two or three anti
quated guns still keep up brave show of
defiance. As the steamer stops here a
whole day, you have ample time to 90
ashore, and see the points of interest
d
that desolate, half ruined aspect common
to outlying settlements in Cuba which.
since time out of mind, have been about
equally harrassed by local patriots and
mountain banditti. For defense against
the latter gentry high wall has been built
around the land side of Gibara; but it
does not appear to have been more effec-
tive than the tcy fort in front. There is a
little plaza, fronted by an antique, two
lowered church, fine casino, a theatre
and several shops; but the dwellings are
few and shabby and the citizens look poor
and discouraged.
The next port of call is Nuevitas, 1865
miles in direct line from Boston, 915
miles from Norfolk, $50 from New Or
leans, and only $40 miles from Miami in