The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-09-13

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, 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 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 Its peaceful course toward the
sea, protected as it 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 of
limestone to show the underlying
mOnotony.
On the Plateau.
The ferry once crossed, the path as
| cends the tableland In 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 aud 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 I'M
der the heat of tropical sun, this
tableland is invariably COOL and the
nights are such that a blanket not only
is comfort but an actual necessity.
t 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 q
, coraline limestone formation covered
. with the typical red clay resulting
2 from the decomposing rock. The land
while of course very rocky, is ideally
5 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
I horses and cattle are also RAISED
' throughout this region and the horse.
r rank among the best that can be fount
In Cuba. At certain times of the veal
+ the roads and woods are fairly covered
Il with the ripe guava fruit, so much so
e In fact, that the odor Of the decompos
n ing fruit becomes offensive. Alligato
: pears also cease to be luxury in {
l. land where every tenth tree in tn
d woods bears this fruit and where on
l. has to be careful, when the pears ar
e In season. not to slip on the ripe pear
K which are scattered underfoot.
$ From Sabana Grande to the east
It the tableland of Maisi is known as l.
= Gran TERRA de Maya (the great Ian
p of Maya. thus named after the May
= river which finds Its source here 1t
s. here that extensive plantations ar
y found, where coffee and bananas ar
IS raised, and 1t is here that in aborigina
h times the Indians must have had thei
s. favorable abode.
!, The inhabitants of the Gran TIER
If de Maya live In manner which ca
only be compared to that of the patr
archs of old Each finca (farm) Is sell
70 supporting, and 1t is but seldom tina
is the proprietor seeks the buster mart
Ia of Baracoa. Where a lavish natur
m provides palms. which supply not onl
It, wood for the house but also roof co,
n ering. food and clothing. and calabas
1T trees, which go far toward filling
ty want for kitchen utensils; wher
j. guinea grass grows like weeds and flu
e. nishes a never-faiing supply of fodde
in for cattle and horses; where fruits ar
err found In wild lavishness and the small
e. est cultivated patch will sustain
u large family and where, lastly, ha
n acre of coffee bushes will keep
m Cuban supplied with enough pockt
Of money to have funds to lose on th
Is outcome of cock fight--the favorii
d. outdoor sport of Cuba In general an
ri of this region in part!cular-it is 4
KS wonder that the inhabitant of ii
Gran TERRA de Maya does not wal
he der far from his native heath.