The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-08-29


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 Empresa 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
coaSted the northern shore of Cuba on
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 FL 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 a height of over 1880
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 stu
! picturesque bays in Cuba. While the
harbOr offers a safe shelter TO vessels
during the greater part of the year, 1t
is exposed to northeasterly gales and
In consequence has 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'
si0ility. Baracoa has a 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-oi
factory where the coconuts from the
neighborlng 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. Thes'
hives are located by professional wa
hunters. who scale seemingly impos
sIble rocks to secure their prize. No
infreduently 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
do well to remember that wax hunter
will often be able to tell of caves whic
are unknown to the other inhabitants
In many Of these caves one Is likely {
find aboriginal remains and artifacts Q
great archaeological value.
Mata and the Yumuri.
The first village Of importance {
the eastward of Baracoa is Mata. TIL
is a calling station for the banan
steamers coming to Baracoa, and frol
here large quantities of this frui
gathered from the surrounding couI
try, are exported. Mata itself Is bI
q small village of perhaps thirt
houses its harbor is too shallow to q
low steamers to anchor and In cons
ouence the bananas are carried on
lighters to the collecting steam'
which lies some distance offshor
From Malta to the mouth Of the Y
muri river the road follows the beaC
more or less, whereas the road fro
Baracoa TO Malta allows no view
the sea. While in places progress
somewhat impeded by the heavy san
- the road from Mata TO the Yumu
!. ferry makes up in beauty what II lac
in convenience.
: Tho yup,uri rivpr-ond IL should