The Monticellonian., 1918-08-02

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 is somewhat impeded by the heavy sand. the road from Mata to the Yumuri ferry makes up in beauty what it lacks in convenience.
 The Yumurl river-and 1t should be noted that Cuba boasts of two Yumuri rivers, the other one being found near MatanZas in the center Of the island | has width of about two hundred yards at the mouth with, ill 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 large ferry which carries the traveller and his horse to the other shore There be- , ing no carriage roads between Baraeoa 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 finger 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 un- told centuries. The very walls of this canyon are covered with verdure, with | here and there a snow-white spot of limestone to show the underlying foundation and to relieve the green monotony.
 On the Plateau
 The ferry once crossed the path as | cends the tabieland in dizzy zigzag which at times puts a 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 comer Is the cool nights on this pla- teau. When Baracoa and the rest of the Cuban republic are smothering un- der the heat of a tropical sun, this tableland is invariably cool and the nights are such that q 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 responsi- ble for this phenomenon and are also responsible for the destructive storms which occasionally visit this region
 From Sabana Grande to the east. the tableland of Mais Is known as La Gran Tierra de Maya (the great land of Maya), thus named after the Maya river which finds its source here. It Is here that extensive plantations are | found, where coffee and bananas are raised.
 The inhabitants of the Gran Tierra de Maya live in a manner which can only be compared to that of the patri- archs of old. Each fnca (farm) is self supporting, and it Is but seldom that the proprietor seeks the buster marts of Baracoa. Where lavish nature provides palms, which supply not only wood for the house but also roof GOV ering, food and clothing, and calabash trees, which go far toward filling n want for kitchen utensils; where guinea grass grows like weeds and fur nishes neverfailing supply of fodder for cattle and horses; where fruits are found in wild lavishness and the small est cultivated patch will sustain large family and where, lastly. a half acre of coffee bushes will keep a Cuban supplied with enough pocket money to have funds to lose on the outcome of cock fight-the favorite outdoor sport of Cuba in general and of this region in particular-it is no wonder that the inhabitant of the Gran Tierra de Maya does not wan der far from his native heath.