St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-02-07
CUBA AT SHORT RANGE.


alone retained. In 1911 the isla
was overrun by Diego Velasquez W
body of Spanish troops, and
natives, unable to cope with the
vaders, were quickly subdued. Th
were reduced to slavery, and, thou
at the time of its discovery the isla
had population of over /, 900, 900,
cruelty were the inhabitants treated th
in 1868 there were but few left Pet
Martyr, an Italian geographer and hi
torian, that lived at the time, tells
that some Spaniards made a VOW
hang or burn l3 natives in honor {
Christ and the l2 apostles every morl
ing. Soon after they landed on the is
1and the Spaniards began the inhumal
tactics that have largely characterize,
their policy ever since. The extinction
of the native population led to the in
production of negroes to work on tn,
plantations. This importation of negroe
continued for centuries until now the
bulk of the population is composed Of
that race
During the latter part of the six
teenth century and during most of the
seventeenth Cuba suffered greatly from
the attacks of the buccaneers. In 17l7
revolt against the Spanish admins.
traitors of the island broke out in conse-
quence of the attempt Of the govern
ment to establish tobacco monopoly.
Since then there have been series Of
revolts and instructions against the
Spanish rulers, but all of them proved
abortive until the last just closed,
which would probably have ended like
all the rest, but for the humane inter
ference of the United States.
Cuba, the Pearl of the Antilles, is
the largest, the most important and the
wealthiest island of the West Indian
archipelago. 1t lies at the entrance to
the gulf of Mexico and forms an irreg-
ular curve of about 900 miles in length,
extending from Cape Maysi on the east
to Cape San Antonio on the west. Its
width varies from 20 to 1876 miles, and
its area, including dependencies
amounts to 47,27S square miles.
The island is intersected by range
of mountains, more or less broken,
which extends through it from east to
west and from which the rivers de-
soend to the sea on each side. From
Cape Maysi to Cape Cruz the range
called the Sierra Maestro skirts the
southern shore for distance of 200 |
miles. At the west end of the island |
the mountains also approach the coast.
Among these ranges lie fertile valleys,
some of which are 200 miles long and
30 broad. The highest peaks in the
Sierra Maestro range, and in fact in the
STAND, are Pico Turquino, rising 6, 900
eet above the level of the sea, and La
Gran Piedra, which ascends to height
Il 5000 feet.
The mountain regions of Cuba are ex.
remedy picturesque, but very sparsely
ettled, and for the most part little
nown. A person might travel for
weeks in these solitudes and never see
human habitation or any evidence
hat man had ever been there. Their
lopes are usually covered by forests
nd dense jungles, whose vegetation,
onstantly moistened by innumerable
treams and brooks and by the rains
nd dews, is rankly luxuriant. I'M
tense mineral wealth is supposed to be
idden in the bowels of these noun
aims, but so far copper is the only
letal that has been mined to any con-
iderable extent.
The entire coast of Cuba, il might be
aid, is protected by rocky reefs and
muddy shadows, which in many in
tances stretch far out into the sea.
These are exceedingly dangerous and
lave proved fatal to large vessels as
we'll as to smaller craft. On many parts
II the coast the sea is very deep quite
close lnshore and affords excellent har-
Oors for vessels plying on the busiest
sea road in the western hemisphere.
There are many islands lying off the
coast OF Cuba, the largest and most inn
portant being the Isle of Pines, a ia
nous health resort. Epidemics are I'M
known on this favored spot, and it's in
habitants are secure from the attacks
Of yellow fever. Many wealthy Cubaps
live here and delightful villas and ele.
CANT residences are frequently seen
ensconced in palm and pine groves and
surrounded by gorgeous fringes of flow.
ers For some unaccountable reason the |
pine tree of our northern regions -four
lshes to perfection in this delightful |
isle. Its presence there may have some
thing to do with the salubriousness of |
the place,
Almost every part Of Cuba is supplied
with fresh and generally pure water.
There are many rivers, but none of
them is OF great length. except the Lam
20, which. rising IN the Sierra Maestro.
empties into Manzanillo bay after run
ning course Of 1870 miles. 1t is only
navlgable for small craft The only |
other rivers deserving of mention are
tne sagua Grande and the Sagua Ohica.
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 cele-
brated. A number of medium sized