The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-08-09
NHE historic town Of BaracOa
may be said to be the western
outpost of the Maisi district
of Cuba. In an extremely iSo-


Of Cuba. In an extremely iso-
lated position, Baracoa can only be
reached from other parts Of the repub-
lie by water communication. The near
est railroad terminal on the north
coast is Antilla (Nipe bay), and from
here one is forced to take one of the
coastal steamers of the Empresa Ma
viera de Cuba in order to get to ones
destination, writes Theodore de Booy,
In the Bulletin of the Pan American
Union. The trip to Baracoa can also
be made from the south coast by, en-
barking at either Santiago de Cuba or
Caimanera on the return voyage of the
coastal steamer.
Baracoa is the oldest existing set
Element In Cuba, and 1t was in 1912,
two years before the first building was
erected in Santiago de Cuba, that the
conquistadores laid out the plans for
the present town. That Columbus Wis
'ited the harbor of Baracoa when he
cOasted the northern shore Of Cuba on
his first voyage Is almost certain, and
prominent table mountain, Eel Yunque
(the anviD, which dominates the har-
Dor and can be seen for miles. It is
claimed, in fact, that 1t was Columbus
himself who named this peak Ell Yum
que from its strong resemblance to an
anvil, but this Is more matter Of local
legend than Of accurate historical rec
ord. Rising to q height of over 1900
feet, the "Anvir' is easily visible for
30 or more miles and forms an excel
lent landmark for mariners approach
Ing this part Of the Cuban coast. Zoo
logically, Ell Yunque offers one of the
best fields in Cuba and one which has
remained practically unexplored; since
the days of the noted Cuban naturalist
Gundlach, who explored the summit
in 1859, we do not believe that this
peak has been investigated.
Harbor Has Bad Reputation.
The town Of Baracoa itself Is situ-
ated on the shores of one Of the most
picturesque bays in Cuba. While the
harbor offers safe shelter to vessels
during the greater part Of the year, it
is exposed to northeasterly gales and
In consequence has a bad reputation
with masters Of sailing vessels. No
tugboat being available, craft which
have to depend on sails alone have
considerable difficulty in leaving the
harbor owing to It's narrow mouth,
and with strong northeasterly winds
their departure becames an impos-
sibility. Baracoa has population Of
about six thousand people, and judg-
ing from the stately buildings which
can still be found must undoubtedly
have lost a great deal Of its former
Importance.
Perhaps the most important indus
| try Of Baracoa itself is coconut-oil
factory where the coconuts from the
neighboring plantations are crushed in
order to extract the oil from the ker-
nels. Another export of Baracoa con-
sists Of wax gathered from the wild
bees that have built hives In the un-
cleared parts Of the country. These
hives are located by professional wax
hunters, who scale seemingly impos-
sible rocks to secure their prize. Not
infrequently the bees build their store
houses In the entrances Of the lime
stone caves with which the country
side abounds, and In consequence Wis
iting archeologists to this region may
do well to remember that wax hunters
will often be able to tell of caves which
are unknown to the other inhabitants.
In many of these caves one Is likely t,
find aboriginal remains and artifacts of
great archaeological value.
Mata and the Yumurl.
The first village Of importance to
the eastward of Baracoa is Mata. This
Is q calling station for the banana
steamers coming to Baracoa. and from
here large quantities of this fruit
gathered from the surrounding coun-
try. are exported. Mata itself is but
q small village Of perhaps thirty
houses; its harbor Is too shallow to al.
low steamers to anchor and In conse.
Quence the bananas are carried of In
lighters to the collecting steamer
which lies some distance offshore.
From Mata to the mouth Of the Yu.
muri river the road follows the beach
more Or less. whereas the road from
Baracoa to Mata allows no view OF
the sea. While In places progress IL
somewhat impeded by the heavy sand
the road from Mata TO the Yumurl
ferry makes up In beauty what It lacks
\ convenience
h Yumuri rivse.and it should b