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

"HE nlstorlc TOWN. VI D"i "eo"
may be said to be the western
outpost of the Maisi district
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 EmDresa Ma
viera de Cuba in order to get to ones
destination, writes Theodore de BODY,
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
tied the harbor of Baracoa when he
his first voyage Is almost certain. and
the admiral undoubtedly observed the
prominent table mountain, Ell Yunque
(the anviD, which dominates the har-
Dor and can be seen for miles. 1t 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 height Of over 1880
feet, the Anvil 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, FL 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 stu
ated on the shores of one of the most
picturesque bays in Cuba. While the
harbor offers a safe shelter to vessels
during the greater part Of the year, 1t
10 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 its 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 a coconut-oll
factory where the coconuts from the
neighboring plantations are crushed ir
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 I'm
cleared parts of the country. These
hives are located by professional wal
hunters, who scale seemingly impos
sible rocks to secure their prize. No
infreuuently 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 Psychologists to this region ma!
%ho% hu tor
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 O
great archaeological value.
Mata and the Yumuri.
The first village of importance t.
the eastward of Baracoa is Mata. Thi
is a calling station for the banan'
steamers coming to Baracoa, and from
here large quantities of this fruit
gathered from the surrounding cOCn
try, are exported. Mata itself is blu
a small village of perhaps thirt
houses: its harbor IS too shallow to al
low steamers to anchor and in cOnst
uuence the bananas are carried off /
lighters to the collecting steame
, which lies some distance offshort
, From Mata to the mouth of the VI
muri river the road follows the beac
more or less, whereas the road fror
Baracoa to Mata allows no view G
the sea. While in places progress
somewhat impeded by the heavy SAM
|
ferry makes up in beauty what it lack
In convenience.
Ths Xumuri river-and :. should b