The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18
SIGHTSEEING in
PRETTY MATANSAS
A Visit to One of the Most Pic
tureSQue Sections of the
Island of Cuba.

peninsula Of Zapata; and by the west,
with the province of Havana
First. visit the Yumuri valley. about
three miles northwest of MatanZas-
Once pom the hill you are charmed by
the beauty of the valley, with it's
grounds broken into sharp peaks and
gentele undulations; It's cane-fields,
with their pea-green verdure. and the
darkgreen foliage Of h palms. natur-
groves and luxuriant plantations, with
broad waving leaves; the cocoa-nut
and almond trees and its coffee plan
t~ations, while here and there an enor-
nous ceiba-tree, the cotton tree of the
West Indies, spreads out it's massive
branches high in the air. The land
scape has no rival ever in the pictures
que scenery Of Switzerland. Visit the
chapel Of Monserrate, n drive to the
caves of Bellamar. about three miles
east OF MatanZas. Guides provided
with torches accompany visitors
throughout these marvellous caves.
The main chamber is magnificent, and
that temple, 1 should think, is quite 300
feet long by about 20 wide, and is about
lao feet from tn" entrance of the cave,
and while it far surpasses in richness
and splendor h temple of the same
name in the Mammoth cave, 1t does not
cl0dI IL III StZS vi SOl6IIlH STdHOGuT
The sparkling columns OF crystal pro-
duce a most wonderful effect; their
color changing when a torch is held be-
hind them from white to amber, warnI-
ed up by lovely rose-tints the effect is
indeed magical and enchanting. Each
nf these has a name: one Tho
temple Of benediction." 1.-The guardian
spirits" and so on. The caves were
accidentally discovered some forty
Vp9 re q on nv a Ia horror Chin 1acin~
a tool down a hole: a search for the
tool revealed an opening into this fairy
Erotto. From the caves tourists ara
near the railroad station, where the
train leave at $3.50 o'clock o. m. Mag
nlticent plantations stretch away as fac
rs the eye can reach, until your return
to Havana. at about $50 o'clock D. in 4"
The train today was made up of on
first class, one second class and two
third class coaches. baggage car and
engine. Judging from what 1 saw in
passing through the coaches several
times, about two-thirds to three-tourths
nf the people ride third class.
The first mule pack train T ever saw
was at MatanZaS today. The mules
were carrying hay from near the rail-
way to the camp across the rivers. Each
Il carried two bales Of hay-ouc
hale on each side of It's back. They
were IN a drove and not cOnnneu IN
any way. A soldier on horseback
would lead the way and the mules fol-
low.
Another thing I saw on this trip that
was new to me were six large oxen pull
Ing one pillow with two men driving.
The New YoT apers OF the 9th we've
in Matanzas the Both.
7 do not ] Der TO have ever
thought so n BON the great affiic-
ton the Lor I'd upon the human
ace in cOn /, their language as
I have upon D. I have seen our
ing the last ears how this great
affliction sti nveniences the hu-
nan family cir intercourse with
each other anu L suppose the trouble
will continue till the end of time. I
was all right at Nassau. but as soon as
l left there the trouble began and II
still continues. such a %jabbering as
there is around here could hardly he
equaled. Twice for a short time l have
been lost in this city ON accoun az
not being able to find some one who
could speak English-one time on re-
turning from Moro Castle and the 9TH
er time on returning from the Yves ern
railway office; but 1t is interesting In
some respects, though 1 expect t. SOON
get out of it and get back where I will
feel more at home.