The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-09

noted that Cuba boasts of two Yumuri
rivers, the other one being found near
Matanzas in the center of the island
has a width Of about two hundred
yards at the mouth with, in all seasons
excepting the rainy season, a depth Of
not over three feet. This lack of depth
is due to sand banks which form in the
mouth Of the river, thanks to the heavy
swell which deposits large quantities
Of coraline sand. Some short distance
from the mouth can be found a large
ferry which carries the traveller and
his horse to the other shore. There be-
ing no carriage roads between Baracoa
and Maisi, there is of course no neces-
sity for a bridge or for a ferry large
enough to transport vehicles.
To all who have travelled in the
West Indies, the mouth of the Yumuri
river must forever linger in their
memory as perhaps the most pIctur-
esque spot visited. With towering
banks on either side, the Yumuri
wends It's peaceful course toward the
sea, protected as 1t were by the deep
canyon 1t has cut for itself during un-
told centuries. The very walls Of this
canyon are covered with verdure, with
here Gnd there a snow-white spot Of
limestone to show the underlying
foundation and to relieve the green
monotoiy.
On the Pla eau.
The ferry once crossed, the path as
cends the tableland in a dizzy zigzag
which at times puts great fear into
the travellers heart, especially so If
his horse should happen to be stumble
footed. The tableland is fully 300 feet
above the level Of the sea and stretches
from the banks of the Yumuri east to
the shores Of Cape Maisi. Perhaps
the first thing that will strike the new
conner is the cool nights on this pla-
teau. When Baracoa and the rest Of
the Cuban republic are smothering un-
der the heat Of tropical sun, this
tableland is invariably cool, and the
nights are such that blanket not only
is comfort but an actual necessity.
The cold winds coming from the At
lantic through the Windward passage
between Cuba and Hayti are RESPONSE
BILE for this phenomenon and are also
responsible for the destructive storms
which occasionally visit this region.
The entire tableland consists Of a
coraline limestone formation covered
with the typical red clay resulting
from the decomposipg rock. The land,
while Of course very rocky, is ideally
suited for the cultivation Of bananas
and coffee. and the agriculture Of these
parts consists almost solely of these
two commodities. A limited number Of
horses and cattle are also raised
throughout this region and the horses
rank among the best that can be found
In Cuba. At certain times Of the year
the roads and woods are fairly covered
with the ripe guava fruit, so much so,
in fact, that the odor Of the decompos-
ing fruit becomes offensive. Alligator
pears also cease to be q luxury in a
land where every tenth tree in the
woods bears this fruit and where one
has to be careful, when the pears are
In season, not to slip on the ripe pears
Ols
From Sabana Grande to the east,
the tableland Of Maisi is known as La
Gran TERRA de Maya (the great land
OF Maya), thus named after the Maya
river which finds It's source here. II Ia :
here that extensive plantations are
found, where coffee and bananas are
raised, and 1t is here that in aboriginal
times the Indians must have had their
favorable abode.
The Inhabitants Of the Gran TERRA
de Maya live in manner which can
only be compared to that of the patri-
archs OF old. Each finca (farm) Is self
supporting, and 1t is but seldom that
the proprietor seeks the buster marts
OF Baracoa. Where q lavish nature
provides palms. which supply moi only
wood for the house but also roof cor,
ering. food and clothing, and calabash
trees, which go fur toward filling
want for kitchen utensils; where
guinea grass grows like weeds and fur
nishes never-failing supply of fodder
Tor cattle and horses; where fruits are
found In wild lavishness and the small
est cultivated patch will sustain q
large family and where. lastly. a half
acre Of coffee bushes win keen \
Cuban supplied with enough pocket
money to have funds to loss on the
outcome Of q cock nght-the favorits
outdoor sport Of Cuba In general ana
OF this region In particular-it ID no
wonder that the inhabltant OF the
Gran TERRA do Maya does not waD>-