The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-09-07

noted that Cuba boasts Of two Yumu1
rivers, the other one being found near
MatanZas in the center of the island
has d width of about two hundred
yards at the mouth with, In all seasons
excepting the rainy season, 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 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 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 Yumurt
wends its peaceful course toward the
sea, protected as 1t were by the deep
canyon it has cut for itself during I'M
told centuries. The very walls Of this
canyon are covered with verdure, with
here and there snow-white spot or
limestone to show the underlying
foundation and to relieve the green
monotony.
On the Plateau.
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 II
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 pia'
teau. When Baracoa and the rest Oh
the Cuban republic are smothering I'M
der the heat of tropical sun, this
tableland is invariably cool, and the
nights are such that blanket not only
| Is q comfort but an actual necessity
The cold winds coming from the At
lantic through the Windward passage
between Cuba and Hayti are responsi.
BILE for this phenomenon and are also
responsible for the destructive storms
which occasionally visit this region.
| The entire tableland consists of
coraline limestone formation covered
with the typical red clay resulting
| from the decomposing 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
which are scattered underfoot.
From Sahara 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 its source here. 1t Is
here that extensive plantations ara
found, where coffee and bananas ara
raised and 1t is here that in aboriginal
times the Indians must have had theft
favorable abode.
The inhabitants Of the Gran TERRA
de Maya live in a 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 a lavish nature
provides palms, which supply not only
wood for the house but also roof COW
ering, food and clothing, and calabasf,
trees, which 90 far toward filling q
: want for kitchen utensils; where
guinea grass grows like weeds and fur
nishes never-falling supply OF fodder
j for cattle and horses; where fruits are
? found in wild lavishness and the small
est cultivated patch wifi sustain q
= large family and where, lastly halt
! acre Of coffee bushes win keep q
! Cuban supplied with enough pocket
{ money to have funds TO lose on tbs
5 outcome Of cock fight-the favorite
/. outdoor sport of Cuba ia general and
Of this region in particular-it is nc
$ wonder that the inhab:fant Of III,
Gran TERRA &c Maya does not van
e der far from his native heath