The times., 1899-10-15

enough TO OWE a horse or mule has only to
30 out into the corral and throw a sheepskin
on the back of the first COW he catches, run
a cord through the iron ring already in
her nose, and the family vehicle is ready.
At Baracoa the oonnoisseur in canes may
indulge his fancy in some odd specimens.
One variety is made from the skin OF the
manatee, or 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 rapier.
Mounted in native silver, they cost here
$l2 or SIS each; but in Havana, Il
you find them at ali, they cannot be bought
for less than $50. Another beautiful cane
is made in these coast villages from the
shells of enormous turtles. The she'll is
boiled to a thin liquid and then strong,
straight stick of proper length is dipped
into il. After being allowed to cool, the
process is repeated again and again, until
the required thickness is attained. Tnen,
when sufficiently hardened, the coating is
sandpapered TO a fine polish, headed. fer
ruled, and is ready for market. 1t has the
appearance of solid tortoise shell, and read
ily sells for s..
Twelve hours sailing from Baracoa
brings you to Gibara, place of consider
able consequence, being the port OF the
interior town Of Holguin, and connected
Herewith by the old Canine Real, or
royal road. The approach to Gibara is ex-
tremely picturesque, numerous detached
mountains rising above low hills and
green forest The bay is open, but partial
ly sheltered from the white crested waves
that break outside, and off the harbor rise
- rNa1.s .tz.,-
toned in his journal as conspicuous land
marks" Though capacious the bay is not
deep enough to allow vessels to come near
its wharves; so they anchor some distance
out and are loaded by means of lighters.
The entrance is guarded by tiny fort,
whose two or three antiquated guns still
keep UP brave show OF defiance. AS the
steamer stops here a whole day, you have
ample time to go ashore and see the points
OF interest.
The town presents in a marked degree
that desolate, half-ruined aspect common
to outlying settlements in Cuba which
since time out of mind have been about
equally harassed by local patriots and
mountain banditti. For defence against
the latter gentry, a hish wall has been
built around the land side of Gibara; but
it does not appear to have been more effec-
tive than the toy fort in front. There is
little plaza, fronted by an antique, two
lowered church, fine casino, theatre
and several shops, but the dwellings are
few and shabby and the citizens look poor
and discouraged.
At Neuvitas.
The next port of call is Neuvitas, 1,465
miles in a direct line from Boston, 915
miles from Norfolk, $50 miles from New
Orleans, and only $40 miles from Miami,
in southern Florida. The entrance to
Neuyitas Bay is a winding river, six miles
sort of canyon. There is an outer bay,
named Mayanabo, formed by a widening of
the river and then the bluffs close in again
until suddenly the superb inner bay is
reached. ffty-seyen miles in extent, as
beautiful as it is surprising, surrounded
by high mountains, stately forests, and
long, sweeping plains Columbus himself
named it Puerto Principe principal Port),
and set up q cross on neighboring height
in token of possession. The first town,
founded by VelazqueZ in 1913, occupied the
present site of NeuyitaS-a sombre looking
port at the extreme southern end of the
immense sheet of water. Afterward the
Spaniards moved on TO the Indian village
Caonao. and later TO Camaguay, forty
miles inland-the place now called Puerto
Principe and capital of the province of
the same name. But the original town
was never quite deserted and at present,
under its more modern name of San Fer
nando de Neuyitas, has a population of
5000. Its sole Importance Is in being the
port Of entry for Principe. and the place
of shipment for the sugar. molasses, and
hides Of that district. A railway connects
Il with the capital. and two trains q day
run between the cities.
Just now the most interesting thing con-
corning Neuvitas 10 Americans IS the fact
that presently several hundred OF our
eountrymen and women, with their chill
dren and household belongings, will be
landed here, under the auspices Of the Gu
ban Land and Steamship Company" of New
York City, TO begin a new life in a strange
land. The widely disseminated literature
of this company reads like a tale of the
Arabian Nights and has caused many
man in the United States to sell his little
farm and invest the proceeds in this enter
prise; has led many clerk and mechanic
10 give up a certainty in Gods country"
for the uncertainties of this. The lurid
prospectus asserts that the opportunity Of
fered by the company is better than any
Klondike, for whereas only one in a thou
sand succeeds in Alaska, 999 out of every
1000 can succeed in Cuba, but does not
explain what may be the matter with the
thousandth man. 1t assures the reader that
anybody may start without a cent, except
enough 10 pay the company's assessments,
and find himself rich in ten years time;
and it urges parents to make future mil
lionaires Of their offspring by buying stock
for the babies.
FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.