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The Isle of Pines: 
 
 (CARIBBEAN SEA) 
 
 ITS 
 
 1TUATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, INHABITANTS, 
 RESOURCES, AND INDUSTRIES. 
 
 WITH MA.F»S. 
 
 PREPARED IN THE DIVISION OF INSULAR AFFAIRS, 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, 
 
 1902. 
 
 LII8AHY OF CONGRESS, 
 
 RECEIVED 
 
 wmm Of DOCUMENTS, 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 Government Printing Office. 
 
 1902. 
 
The Isle of Pines: U3 
 
 (CARIBBEAN SEA) 
 
 ITS 
 
 SITUATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, INHABITANTS, 
 RESOURCES, AND INDUSTRIES. 
 
 WITH MAPS. 
 
 PREPARED IN THE DIVISION OF INSULAR AFFAIRS, 
 
 y 
 
 U. Si, WAR DEPARTMENT, 
 1902. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 Government Printing Office. 
 
 1902. 
 

 
 *\ 
 
 tfbHf 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Title . 1 
 
 Table of distances . - 5 
 
 Location and boundaries 5 
 
 Area — - 6 
 
 Physical features 6 
 
 Rivers and streams 7 
 
 Topography and hydrography . 9 
 
 Mineral springs 13 
 
 Climate 14 
 
 Bays and harbors 15 
 
 Communications . . 17 
 
 Distances to points on mainland of United States 18 
 
 Cable and telegraph 18 
 
 Roads and trails.. 19 
 
 Population and towns 19 
 
 List of towns, villages, and haciendas 20 
 
 Census statistics 22 
 
 Dependent islands 25 
 
 Agricultural resources _ 25 
 
 Vegetable products 26 
 
 Minerals 27 
 
 Forests 28 
 
 Fruits 29 
 
 Industries ' .. . 30 
 
 Fauna 31 
 
 Commerce r 31 
 
 Coinage, weights, and measures 1_. 31 
 
 Civil government 32 
 
 Political status .___• -... 32 
 
 Historical events 33 
 
 Public lands, taxes, and dues 33 
 
 Appendix — Physiography of the. Isle of Pines 35 
 
 MAPS. 
 
 Isle of Pines, surrounding waters, and mainland faces 5 
 
 Puerto Frances and Siguanea Bay faces 15 
 
 Steamer routes from United States railway tide-water terminal points 
 
 and connections for Isle of Pines faces 17 
 
 Towns, villages, haciendas, physical features, and roads -..- faces 19 
 
 (3) 
 
ISLE OF PINES— SURROUNDING WATERS AND MAINLAND. 
 
THE ISLE OF PINES. 
 
 [see map.] 
 
 [n * * * That the Isle of Pines shall be omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, 
 the title thereto being left to future adjustment by Treaty." — Act of Congress U. S., approved March %, 1901.] 
 
 Capital, NuevaGerona; latitude 21° 57' N., longitude 82° 40' W. 
 (approx.). 
 
 Area, 986 square miles. 
 
 Population, United States Census of 1899, 3,199; Spanish cen- 
 sus of 1887, 1,992. 
 
 Race, Spanish and colored. 
 
 Language, Spanish. 
 
 United States Military Department of Cuba, Headquar- 
 ters, Habana. 
 
 TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
 
 Statute 
 
 , From Ntieva Gerona — miles. 
 
 To Batabano, NNE - 65 
 
 To Habana, N. by E., via Batabano 90 
 
 To Miami, Fla., via Habana 238 
 
 To New Orleans via Batabano and Habana 810 
 
 To New Orleans by sea 828 
 
 To Pensacola, Fla., via Batabano and Habana 713 
 
 To Pensacola by sea 783 
 
 To Tampa, Fla. , via Batabano and Habana 350 
 
 LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES. 
 
 The Isle of Pines, also called Reina Amalia, lies in a deep bight 
 off the south coast of the western part of Cuba, between latitude 
 21° 24' 40" and 21° 56' N., and longitude 82° 30' and 83° 12' W. 
 Its extreme northwest point (de ios Barcos) is 30 nautical or 34i 
 statute miles southeast of Punta de Carraguao (Pinar del Rio), the 
 nearest land of- Cuba. Its surrounding waters are the Caribbean 
 Sea. 
 
 The island lies 730 miles (statute), across the Caribbean Sea, 
 north of Greytown entrance to the Nicaragua canal ; 850 miles 
 north by west of Colon entrance to the Panama canal; 230 miles 
 east of the nearest coast of Yucatan, Mexico, and 370 miles north- 
 west of Jamaica. It is protected from approach on the north 
 by the coast of Cuba and from all sides on the Caribbean Sea by 
 the shallow channels and innumerable keys which can be easily 
 
 (5) 
 
6 
 
 rained. The island, in a defensible point of view, can be made 
 impregnable at a minimnm ontlay. 
 
 The Cnban provincial name of the island is " Qnitrin," on 
 account of the resemblance of its outline to the body of a chaise 
 (volante). 
 
 AREA. 
 
 It is 34 miles from north to south and 43 miles from east to 
 west on a line with Point Frances. Its area is 986 square miles, 
 or 631,040 acres, including the Cienaga, but 99 square miles less 
 than the land superfices of the State of Rhode Island, and within 
 264 square miles "of its total of land and water. It is nearly equal 
 in size to the combined area of the 1,360 other- isles, islets, and 
 keys which encircle Cuba. According to the " Derrotero de las 
 Antillas" the island [its arable portions] is a square of 30 miles 
 if a narrow tongue which runs from its southwest corner 11 miles 
 to the northwest is not considered. The greatest length is from 
 northeast to southwest, 43 miles, and breadth at the center from 
 east to west 32 miles, and in the south 43 miles. 
 
 PHYSICAL FEATURES. 
 
 The island has a geological relation to the general chain of 
 insular mainlands of the Antilles, and is unlike the numerous low 
 coral and sand formations known as keys and mangrove swamps 
 scattered in such profusion off the coast. In general the surface 
 is a plateau of 50 to 100 feet above sea level, broken by ridges of 
 hills or cliffs that project abruptly above the general surface. 
 
 The two mountain ridges at the northern end reach an elevation 
 of about 1,500 feet, and are composed of limestone and marble. 
 The other ridges in the center are much lower, less precipitous, 
 and formed of gray sandstone, red rock and gravel, containing 
 iron. 
 
 The most remarkable summits are the Sierra de la Canada, 1,600 
 feet high, with precipices 150 feet; Daguila, 1,500 feet high, from 
 the summit of which may be had a view of the entire island : 
 Sierra de Cabalios, 1,074 feet high; Mount Casas, about 2 miles 
 from the latter, composed of beautiful marbles of various colors, 
 and Mount Cristales, of moderate height, its sides being covered 
 abundantly with green rock crystals. 
 
 The southern part, comprising about one-third of the entire 
 area, is an impassable cienaga or salt bayou and lagoon, inter- 
 spersed by islets and rocky ledges of locally known ' ' dog-tooth " 
 or coral rock, and occupied by fishermen. There is a small open 
 lake on the south of the causeway, which connects with the higher 
 ground. 
 
A chain of islets from its extreme east point, called the Islas de 
 Mangles, extends in a northwesterly direction into the bight, 
 which is filled with a number of small keys. From the south- 
 eastern shore at Piedras Point another chain of keys extends 
 eastwardly to a point southwest of Cienfuegos. North of these 
 lie the Jardines and Jardinillos banks, a very shallow body of 
 water, so named on account of their verdure-strewn islets, in 
 many of which springs of pure water bubble up from the deep. 
 These banks and keys, extending east and west like curtains from 
 the island and the cienaga on the south of the mainland, form an 
 impassable line of defense against attack from the Caribbean Sea. 
 
 The whole island, with the exception of the rocky southern 
 coast, is surrounded by mangrove swamps, with here and there a 
 stretch of sandy beach. 
 
 The island has a number of rivers of excellent water, the most 
 important of which emptying on the north coast are the Nuevas, 
 composed of several mountain tributaries, 5 to 10 feet deep, and 
 navigable 4 or 5 miles; the Sierra de Casas, also composed of 
 several mountain branches, near the mouth of which Nueva 
 Gerona is situated, and accessible by vessels drawing 5 feet. On 
 the northeast coast is the Santa Fe, formed of -many streams, on 
 the main one of which, navigable for small craft, the town of the 
 same name is situated. On the east coast is the Guayabo. The 
 cienaga or swamp on the south receives the mountain drainage 
 through the outlets of nine streams. On the west coast are no 
 streams of importance. 
 
 RIVERS AND STREAMS. 
 
 The drainage of the island is represented by the following rivers 
 and streams: 
 
 Bernardino. — A rivulet tributary to the Sante Fe on the south. 
 
 Callejon, Rio del. — Near the west coast; rises in the Sierra 
 San Jose ; flows north by east past Santa Teresa and La Nuevas. 
 Of the stream of the latter name it is the west tributary. 
 
 Casas Rio de Sierra. — Rises in the highlands of the north 
 near Santa Rosalia. It flows north, passes Nueva Gerona, the 
 capital, to which point it is navigable for the steamer which plies 
 between the island and Batabano on the Cuban coast, and enters 
 the sea about the center of the north coast of the island between 
 Fuera and Barcos points. 
 
 Cayamas. — A rivulet which, rising east of Asiento de Santa Fe 
 and flowing northeast, is lost in the lagoons near the coast south 
 of the mouth of the Santa Fe. 
 
Citerna. — The larger and western of the many tributaries of 
 the Las Nuevas, rising in the Sierra de la Canada in the southwest 
 of the island. 
 
 Grande. — A small stream rising south of Sierra Seiba and 
 emptying into the Cienaga on the south. 
 
 Gtjayabo. — Rises in the vicinity of San Juan on the east, and 
 flowing northeast empties into the sea south of Potrero Point, 
 east coast. 
 
 Indios, Rio de los. — Rises in the Sierra de la Canada, flows 
 west past San Antonio, and empties into Siguanea Bay on its 
 northeast shore southeast of Majagua Point. 
 
 Itabo. — A small stream emptying on the east shore of Siguanea 
 Bay. 
 
 Jagua, Rio de la. — Rises on the south watershed of the Sierra 
 de la Seiba, flows southeast into the Cienaga on the east between 
 the Cayo de Piedras and Boca de la Cienaga. 
 
 Mal Pais. — Rises on the east slopes of the same summit as the 
 ISTuevas and, flowing northeast, enters the Santa Fe at Jucaro, to 
 which point the main stream is navigable. 
 
 Medio, Rio dee. — A tributary of the Rio de las Nuevas, enter- 
 ing that stream on its east shore near its mouth on the north coast. 
 
 Nuevas, Rio de las. — The largest river on the island, rising in 
 the same central summits which feed the Rio Mal Pais, Santa Fe, 
 and Jagua. It receives its larger tributaries, Citerna, Callejon on 
 the west, and Medio on the east, the latter near its mouth on the 
 north coast east of Point de los Barcos. 
 
 San Pedro. — Rises in the hills of that name near the southwest 
 center and empties into the Boca de la Cienaga, in the northeast 
 angle of Siguanea Bay. 
 
 Santa Fe. — One of the most important streams but not the 
 largest, with many small tributaries ; it rises about the center of 
 the island and, flowing northeast, enters the bight betwe.en points 
 Fuera and Potrero. On the main stream is situated the town of 
 the same name and important thermal springs. (See "Thermal 
 Springs.") It is also navigable to Jucaro (see). 
 
 Santiago. — Rises between the Cerros del Aji and La Seiba and 
 flows southeast, emptying into the Cienaga on the southeast near 
 the Boca de la Cienaga. 
 
 Siguanea, Rio de la. — Rises on the southern declivities of 
 Sierra de la Canada and, flowing south, empties into the Cienaga 
 mouth in the northeast angle of Siguanea bay. 
 
 Tinas., Arroya de las. — A rivulet rising south of hill of del 
 Monte and empties into the Cienaga on the west. 
 
9 
 
 "The Universal Geography," by Elisde Reclus, Volume XVII, 
 referring to the interesting physical characteristics of the island, 
 
 says : 
 
 Manzanillo bay * * * . Farther on, the Isle of Pines is connected with a 
 labyrinth of reefs and islets, of which the best known are those of the Jardines 
 Bank and the Jardinillos, forming a seaward prolongation of the Marsh of 
 Zapata. In the Jardines, so named from verdure-clad islets strewn like "gar- 
 dens " amid the bine waters, springs of fresh water bubble up from the deep, 
 flowing probably in subterranean galleries from the mainland 
 
 The Isle de Pinos (Pinos Island or Isle of Pines), which lies off the southwest 
 coast of Cuba, is alone more extensive than all xhe other 1,300 isles and islets 
 strewn around the Cuban seaboard. It consists in reality of two islands sepa- 
 rated by a tortuous passage, half channel, half swamp, which winds at nearly 
 uniform width for about 3 miles from west to east. This cienaga, or "marsh," 
 as the Spaniards call it, is a riviere salee (salt river) analogous to that of 
 Guadeloupe. 
 
 Toward its eastern extremity a few rocky ledges flush with the water have 
 been utilized to make a camino de piedra (stone causeway) between the two 
 sections of the island. A great contrast is prescribed by these sections; 
 that on the north is diversified with "sierras," groups of hills and isolated 
 eminences,' one of the summits in the Sierra de* la Canada rising to a 
 height of 1,540 feet; but the southern section is everywhere low, although the 
 swampy savannas and impassable quagmires are here and there interrupted by 
 sharp rocks, intersected by fissures and pierced by seborucos or pits. 
 
 This part of the island seems to have been upheaved in relatively recent times, 
 for even within the historic period islets on the coast have been submerged in 
 continuous land by the mangrove thickets spreading over the intervening straits 
 and shallows. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY AND HYDROGRAPHY. 
 
 According to the "Diccionario Enciclopedico Hispano Ameri- 
 cano," volume 15, Barcelona, 1894, quoting the "Derrotero de las 
 Antillas" — 
 
 The island is divided by a swamp sometimes impassable in its southern por- 
 tion, which is in general very low and marshy. Its northern portion, which is 
 mountainous and contains many rivers which are navigable for vessels drawing 
 from 8.3 to 9.3 feet, is entirely covered with thick woods, where good pine is 
 found ; the inhabitants engage in cattle raising and most of them reside in Nueva 
 G-erona, a small place situated in the northern portion, composed of guano and 
 yagua huts. The island can be distinguished from a distance of 45 miles in the 
 south by three mountains, of which the highest and western one, which belongs 
 to the San Jose Sierra, although having three peaks, appears to be one until its 
 meridian is passed to the west ; and, according to the point whence one looks at 
 it, it presents on the northern coast the Sierra de Caballos, which can be seen 30 
 miles away. In the center is the Sierra de la Canada and the Siguanea hill, 
 which, when approaching the west coast, may be seen at a distance of more 
 than 30 miles ; and the peak of La Daguilla, nearer the eastern coast. Alejandro 
 Helvecio Lanier, in his " Geography of the Isle of Pines," says that the total area 
 is 614.34 sq. marine miles, or 211,000 hectares (1 hectare=2,471 a.), of which the 
 northern portion occupies 133,000 and the southern 78,000, taking the straits of 
 Cayo de Piedra and the bed of every large creek as dividing points. Its great- 
 est length is from the eastern extremity to French Cape (Frances) 16f legal 
 
10 
 
 leagues, or 70| kilometers (43^ miles), and its greatest width on the meridia 
 76° 1' 2", 12J leagues, or 53£ kilometers (33 miles). Its nearest point to the 
 Island of Cuba is distant lOf leagues (29 miles) from Barcos Point to the pc, I 
 of the Palacios River in a northwest direction, and 24^ leagues (66.3 miles) froi.; 
 the mouth of the river Sierra de Casas to Batabano. 
 
 The northern portion of the island is covered with pine trees, and the groun 
 is to a large extent sandy. Only on the banks of the rivers and around thj) 
 mountains lands of good quality are to be found, good for the cultivation of any 
 thing and the growing of wood of all the species known in Cuba. The southeri 
 portion is perfectly level and very little above sea level. It is covered wit! 
 trees of all kinds, which grow among rugged and sharp stones called " sebori 
 cos," which render a passage through these thickets exceedingly difficult anc 
 the removal of the many useful woods almost impossible. 
 
 The littoral, from the mouth of the Sierra de Casas River to the foot of the 
 Columpo is very low, being at sea level at almost every point. Only near the 
 edge is it about half a yard above. As far as 600 varas (1,666 feet) to the interior, 
 it is continually overflowed, not only because it is at sea level, but because it 
 receives the waters from the plains and from various small creeks. All these 
 low lands are covered with mangrove trees and lianas so dense that they are 
 impassable. The banks of the Sierra de Casas River are also covered with 
 similar trees, especially the western one, as far as the town. The foot of the 
 Columpo is composed entirely of stones and enormous rocks, which appear to 
 have broken away from its summit. From the Columpo to the Punta de Piedra 
 the coast is a stretch of fine white sand, slightly higher than that on the other 
 side of the Columpo and much wider and cleaner. Forty varas (111 feet) from 
 the edge the land gradually descends until it reaches sea level, the greater 
 portion being overflown. Near the Columpo is situated a forest of high trees 
 containing a number of useful woods. Piedra Cape is composed of rocks, and 
 to the west, at a distance. of 442 varas (1,228 feet), is situated the Piedra del 
 Indio, which is likewise a rock. From Piedra Cape, the lands adjoining the 
 coast continue low and marshy. These marshy lands contain various kinds 
 of mangrove trees (mangles, prietos, and patabanes) up to near the mouth of 
 Simon Creek, where there are mangroves "de una." This creek forms, before 
 emptying into the sea, a large lake and inundates the surrounding land up to 
 near the Bibijagua and the Morrillo. The shore of Los Flamencos is that which 
 follows to the southwest of the Morrillo. It is separated from the leeward coast 
 only by a strip 90 varas (252 feet) wide at its narrowest point. The other two 
 points are formed by the ends of the Bibijagua Sierra. Between them lies a 
 stretch of sand, and 50 varas (138 feet) from the coast the forest at the foot of 
 the sierra begins. 
 
 The coast from the Bibijagua Sierra goes in the same direction as the last 
 named, but a little before Salinas Point there is a natural salt deposit 500 varas 
 (1,472 feet) long. From the first to the third Salinas point the land next to the 
 coast for a distance of 25 varas (69 feet) is at sea level, but it forms large, clean, 
 salt pits, without any trees. These natural salt deposits, which it would be 
 easy to work, increase in width to the west, forming large tracts. From here 
 on, these tracts are very large, and from the shores of the Cocodrilos to the mouth 
 of the Santa Fe river the sea connects with them directly, being separated 
 therefrom only by a narrow strip of mangrove trees. The place where these 
 tracts are largest is at Point Fuera. 
 
 From the mouth of the Santa Fe River to the Grande Estuary, the entire coast 
 consists of an impenetrable marsh. Thence to the eastern point, it is possible to 
 land only at the Caudal wharf and at the points of Rancho Vie jo and Piedra. 
 The mangrove thicket continues still further to the south of the east point and 
 
11 
 
 reaches the point where the shore of the south coast begins, where a small hut 
 is situated built of guano by fishermen. From this point, called the ' ' Rancheria 
 of the East," begins a stretch of sand half a league long which forms a shallow 
 bay. At the end of this sandy stretch begins the stone coast, continuing as far 
 as Seboruco Alto and Brava Point. Here the "Playa Larga" begins, which is 
 composed entirely of sand. At the same point a swamp f of a league (2 miles) 
 wide begins, which stops at the head of the G-uanal. It is an absolutely 
 impenetrable marsh. The greatest distance between the coast and the swamp 
 is 300 varas (834 feet), and the shortest 80 (240 feet). The elevation of this 
 land above sea level is not more than 3 varas (8 ^ feet) , as far as the point of 
 Curazao, where the elevation is slightly higher, reaching 8 varas (22 feet) at 
 Canoa Point, and continues at this elevation almost to the head of the G-uanal, 
 where it is barely i vara (33.384 inches). The water of this swamp is salty and 
 not potable. Pure water can not be found at less than 400 varas (1,111 feet) 
 leeward from Maracayero Point. This swamp contains two estuaries by which 
 it empties into the sea. The prin'cipal one is the Siguaneita. The second, which 
 is very small, is located 120 varas (333J- feet) to the north of G-uanal Point. The 
 entire Playa Larga, from Brava to Guanal Point, has a sandy bottom with some 
 stones and 6 feet of water at its lowest depth. 
 
 Half a mile south of Curazao Point is situated a bank even with the surface 
 of the water. Eight hundred and fifty varas (236 feet) SSW. from the latter 
 are situated two similar ones and some other lower ones. The rest of the stretch 
 is unobstructed. The reefs and rocks begin at Brava Point, run to the south- 
 east 1 mile as far as the quebrado (opening) of Barlovento, which are covered 
 by 9 feet of water, continue south 700 varas (1,945 feet) and then WSW. as far 
 as Guanal Cape, approaching the coast. In these reefs there are four openings 
 which permit an entry into the Playa Larga. The first, already mentioned, 1 
 mile south of Brava Point ; the second, opposite the Bay of Llimtete ; the third, 
 south of Curazao Point, and the fourth, the largest, is that of Guanal Cape, 
 which is nearly 1 mile wide. 
 
 From the mouth of Sierra de Casas River to Barcos Point the coast land is 
 low and swampy, almost level with the sea. The *trees in this swamp are 
 mangroves, yanas, and patabanes, which extend as far as the water's edge, which 
 is sandy. There are 3 feet of water and a sandy bottom up to 50 yards of the 
 edge. Barcos Point is an impassable mangrove thicket at sea level. At the end 
 of the bay there is a small estuary which connects with the sea north of the 
 point, but it is impossible to traverse it with any vessel unless it is dragged over 
 the mud. This bay is surrounded with swamps. The marshy lands continue 
 very nearly to the Capitan Estuary, where a sandy stretch begins and con- 
 tinues as far as the Pino Estuary, which has two mouths; that of the north 
 1 foot deep and 40 varas wide, the other SSE. of the latter about 150 varas (416 
 feet), 3 feet deep, but narrow and hardly visible. On each side of the first 
 estuary are swamps and lakes of salt water, which continue along the banks of 
 the sea as far as Buena "Vista Point and thence along the entire edge of the Bay of 
 Siguanea, which begins at this point. The coast from said Buena Vista Point 
 runs southeast to the mouth of the large swamp called Siguanea. Two and one- 
 half miles distant is situated the Soldado Estuary, which is very small and the 
 mouth of which is I of a league (0.675 mile) WSW. from the hill of the same 
 name. Majagua Point is 4£ miles from Buena Vista Point. 
 
 Along the entire coast of the Bay of Siguanea no river but the Indios 
 empties, which has a very small mouth. Further on we come to French Cape, 
 or the small key called Cayuelo, there being a distance of 3| miles therefrom to 
 Cocodrilo Point on the bay. The port called Frances (French) consists of the 
 bay which lies between Pedernales Point and the small tongue of land of La 
 
12 
 
 Rancheria. SSW. of this point, 120 varas (133 feet) distant, there is a small 
 key 24 Varas (66 feet) from northeast to southwest, and 70 (194 feet) from north 
 to south. Between this small key and the land there is only 1 foot of water. 
 This port has a fair capacity and sufficient water for merchant vessels; but 
 vessels can not anchor at the entrance in 6 fathoms nor inside in 2, because the 
 bottom is composed of large and rugged stones, with deep fissures, where the 
 anchors would be lost. In the middle in 3.fathoms is a good sand and stone 
 anchorage. The port is protected from the southeast, east, and northeast winds, 
 but not from those coming from the third and fourth quadrants. This is one 
 of the reasons which force an anchorage as far out as possible in order to facili- 
 tate an easy departure in case of being surprised by the last-named winds. 
 Vessels of small draft may in such case seek refuge behind Cape French, where 
 there are two arms, having a mud bottom, entering the same from the north, 
 which is 8 feet deep. 
 
 The bay to the north of the Rancheria is closed on the west by reefs, and the 
 passages in the latter have water sufficient only for small vessels, such as boats 
 and canoes. Between the reefs and the coast there is an innumerable number 
 of rocks beneath the surface of the water which make this region very difficult 
 to navigate even for canoes, for which reason fishermen and guides living there 
 have marked out the channels which lead to the Rancheria Point from this side. 
 The edge of this bay and that of the north of La Vigia Point, as far as Cape 
 Frances, is a sandy stretch. Fifteen varas (42 feet) from the water's edge the 
 land is 3 varas (8 feet) above sea level, and from this point the elevation decreases 
 until the swamp is reached, 120 to 150 varas (333 to 416 feet) distant. The 
 southern beach or bank of La Rancheria or Port Frances is composed of quick- 
 sands and of flat stones at the water's edge, preventing the landing of vessels. 
 At the end of this bank there are some rocks 3 varas (8 feet) high and 9 feet of 
 water next to them with a stone bottom. One hundred varas (28 feet) NNE. 
 of this point is situated a small cove with so little water that it is difficult for 
 canoes even to enter it, the bottom being of stone. From this point to the 
 northwest point of the key which forms Cape Frances, there is a distance of Si- 
 miles in a straight line in a direction running from southeast 18°. Two and 
 three-fourths miles southeast 29° 1' 2" from Pedernales Point, is situated Lugo 
 Point, and i mile north the cove of the same name. To the northwest there is 
 a small bay which has a sandy shore, and southeast a high rock which extends 
 to the center of the bay, where there are fishing banks. It has 3 feet of water 
 and a sandy and stone bottom. At the end of the bay, north of Lugo Bay, there 
 is another small bay, Ingles, li miles southeast of Pedernales Point. Two and 
 one-half miles from Lugo Point is situated the Grande Bay ; then follow the 
 Caletones, Cocodrilo points and the bay of the same name. From French Cape 
 to Cocodrilos, carey fishing is very good. Then follows Infierno Bay, north of 
 which is a large lake ; Jorobado Bay, where two creeks empty ; Diablo Bay, 3 
 miles from the latter ; Purgatorio and Carapachivey bays, the largest of all on 
 the southern side of the Island, with a mouth more than i league (0,6479 
 mile). Finally, we come to Agustin Fol Bay. There is a distance of 4 miles 
 from this bay to the head of the Guanal. 
 
 The mountains of the Isle of Pines, by order of elevation, are: Canada, 
 Daguilla, Caballos, Sierra Casas del Sur, Sierra Casas del Norte, San Pedro, del 
 Monte, de la Seiba, Lacunagua, Mai Pais, Aji, La Manigua, San Jose (last hill 
 in the south), Sierra Pequena, Columpo, Bibijagua, etc. The Canada Sierra, 
 the highest, is 1,653 feet above sea level and 1,335 feet on its base. The base is 
 1 league (2.7 miles) long in a northwest to southeast direction. It is covered 
 with pines up to the summit, which can be easily ascended on the north side ; 
 on the south there are high perpendicular cliffs. The Siguanea, Indios, and 
 
13 
 
 Cisterna rivers rise on this range. It is 5 leagues (13.5 miles) from the town of 
 Nueva Gerona and 2f (7 miles) from Siguanea Bay. Daguilla is 1,476 feet above 
 sea level and 1,290 upon its base. Its figure is that of a cone with the base \ 
 league (1* miles) in diameter. The northern part is covered with woods half 
 way to the summit. In these woods may be found the Lagetta lintearia. The 
 other parts of this range are covered with pasture lands and its ascent on the 
 south side is very difficult. The Caballos Sierra is 1,074 feet above sea level. 
 The foot of the sierra is 2,400 varas (about l£ miles) from east to west from the 
 Sierra de Casas River and 50 varas (11^ feet) above sea level. This range is 
 accessible only on the northwest side and on the southeast, there being perpen- 
 dicular cliffs almost everywhere, especially on the west. It is entirely covered 
 with woods, and on the east side good timber for ship and house building may 
 be found. The trees which are most abundant on the east are the yayas, 
 guairajes, robles, cedar, sabicues, etc. This sierra runs NNW. and SSE. and in 
 this direction is 3,163 castilian varas (1=0.914 U. S. yard) long, occupying a 
 space of 12^ caballerias (416 acres) . Marbles of various colors and qualities 
 constitute part of this range. The Casas Sierras are two ranges running from 
 north to south 1 league, being divided by a level and red stretch of land 350 
 varas (972 feet) wide. The western part of this valley is rather broken, some 
 creeks being formed which empty into Muertos Creek. The Casas del Sur 
 Sierra is 4,037 castilian varas (1=0.914 U. S. yard) from the town of Nueva 
 Gerona. Its base has a length from north to south of 2,534 varas (586 feet) and 
 a width from east to west of 1,192 (311 feet). Its elevation above sea level 
 is 1,035 feet. It is covered with trees of the same kind as are found on the 
 Caballos Sierra. It is inaccessible on the north and northwest, but may easily 
 be ascended on the south and east. On the north it has two cliffs, the sides of 
 which are perpendicular. Between them there is a stretch of land containing 
 about i caballeria (17 acres) called " Los Hondones," which is entered by a very 
 narrow neck. This place is naturally inclosed by high cliffs, the trees and vege- 
 tation being exuberant. The eastern cliff is 903 feet above sea level and 876 
 varas (2,433 feet) distant from the principal peak. That of the west is of the 
 same height. The mass of the mountain is clayey, as is the Sierra de Caballos, 
 and on the summit may be found an abundance of loose carbonate of lime. The 
 Casas del Norte Sierra is 924 feet high, rising almost perpendicularly from level 
 ground. It is inaccessible from almost every side. It consists of four peaks 
 running from north to south. The first, on the north, is the lowest, and the 
 height of the others increases progressively. Useful woods can be found at the 
 foot of the mountain and halfway to the summit, but are not as abundant as on 
 the other mountains referred to. At the foot of the mountain, on the south- 
 east, there are in the rainy season some small lakes, formed by the water from 
 the sierras and adjoining plateaus. These lakes dry up after the rainy season is 
 over. Of the other elevations of the island, the only ones worthy of mention 
 are the Sierra Pequena, south of that of Caballos, with good woods ; the Columpo 
 Sierra, consisting of six peaks and masses of blue and white marble, where there 
 was an intention of establishing fortifications, commanding, as it does, the 
 Columpo and Bibijagua lakes, and the Bibijagua Sierra, covered with woods to 
 the summit ; to the northwest of the latter is situated the morillo of Bibijagua. 
 The principal and only navigable rivers of the island are the Santa Fe, Casas, 
 and Nuevas. 
 
 MINERAL SPRINGS. 
 
 The mineral springs, for which the island has a world-wide rep- 
 utation, judged from official and individual certification as to 
 
14 
 
 curative properties and results of the waters, are remarkable, 
 especially in pulmonary, rheumatic, and throat affections. 
 
 A chemical analysis shows the waters to be impregnated with 
 oxygen and carbonic acid gases, chloride of sodium, sulphate of 
 lime, carbonate of lime, iron, magnesia, chloride of calcium, nitrate 
 of lime, silex, and extractic organic matter. Temperature of water 
 82° F. The regimen of treatment is two baths of a quarter of an 
 hour each and four glasses, taken inwardly, per day. The baths 
 are erected over the springs. The testimonials of the beneficial 
 effects of bathing and drinking are numerous", among others being 
 a case of bronchial trouble requiring caustic treatment of the 
 throat which was cured in ten days and without a recurrence of 
 the complaint. It is claimed that the waters rival Saratoga in the 
 United States. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 The climate is described as "delicious, the air pure and balmy 
 and, notwithstanding the island being surrounded by water, is 
 considered dry. The winds coming from the sea and passing over 
 the pine forests are gentle and invigorating." The year is divided 
 into two seasons. During the wet (lluviosa), or summer, the rains 
 begin early in June and last until October, seldom more than two 
 hours in the afternoon, and are accompanied by thunder and light- 
 ning. The greatest rainfall is in May, June, and July, although 
 there is no month entirely free from rain. During this wet season 
 about two-thirds of the precipitation of the year is received. The 
 day is usually clear until 10 a. m., after which it is showery until 
 night. The nights are clear. 'The hottest hours are from 10 to 12 
 a. m. About 2.30 p. m. the breeze (la virazon) blowing in from 
 the sea moderates the temperature. At night the copious dews 
 contribute to the luxuriance of vegetation. 
 
 The dry season (seca), or winter, extends from October to June, 
 with occasional visitations from November to February of los nortes 
 (cold winds blowing from the north) lasting about forty-eight hours, 
 when the temperature falls to 50, but is not as uncomfortable 
 as the March winds in the States. This season is not entirely 
 without precipitation, the days of rain numbering about one- 
 third of the wet season. The annual rainfall ranges from 50 to 52 
 inches, or less than on the Gulf Coast of the States. The average 
 rainy days is 10 in the month, and the average humidity for the 
 year 75 per cent. 
 
 The annual temperature of Habana, less than 90 miles in a. 
 straight line north, is, mean maximum 82-|- to 84° F., mean mini- 
 mum 71°. The highest temperature on record is 100.6° and lowest 
 49.6°. The mean annual temperature is 75°. The heat is oppres- 
 sive on account of the moisture. The prevailing winds of the Isle 
 
10 Cables. S 
 
 O 
 
 Sea Mile. 
 
 S IG UAN-EA 
 
 W 
 
 ISLE OF PINES— PUERTO PRANCES. 
 
 Anchorage (approx.): Latitude 21° 34' 30" N., longitude 83° 11' 11" W. Soundings in fathoms. 
 
15 
 
 of Pines are the northeast trades, which blow with but little varia- 
 tion throughout the year, rendering the nights cool both in winter 
 and summer. 
 
 The range of temperature between summer and winter rarely 
 exceeds a mean of 11°. 
 
 Hurricanes are less frequent than in Cuba. In March, April, 
 or May slight earthquakes are sometimes felt. The most damaging 
 hurricanes occurred in 1774, 1841, 1846, 1865, 1870, 1876, 1885, and 
 1894, and earthquakes, especially in the eastern portion of the 
 mainland, principally in Santiago de Cuba, in 1776, 1842, and 1852. 
 
 The "Derrotero de las Antillas," referring to the climatic condi- 
 tions, says : 
 
 The climate of Pinos is among the healthiest known. No yellow fever, nor 
 cholera, which in former years decimated the population of Cuba, ever made its 
 appearance here. Although south of Cuba, its temperature is lower on account 
 of the winds which are always blowing. From all parts, from Cuba as well as 
 from the United States, the sick come to be cured by the pure air and beneficial 
 waters of its springs and creeks. 
 
 BAYS AND HARBORS. 
 
 Cape Frances, at the extreme point of a rocky crescent-shaped 
 peninsula extending into the ocean, forms the spacious bay and 
 anchorage of Siguanea on the southwest. A small key connected 
 with the point is the home of numbers of enormous crocodiles 
 (rhombifer. Bibron) known under the Cuban name "caiman." 
 On the shores of the point are found great quantities of rare and 
 beautiful shells and coral. . •. 
 
 From this anchorage vessels drawing 20 feet can pass northward 
 around the island as far as Nueva Gerona inside the keys that lie 
 some 6 miles off the coast. From Frances to Indian Point to the 
 northeast it is 16 miles and trends inland 18 miles. The bay has 
 a depth from If fathoms (10£ feet) to 5i fathoms (33 feet). The 
 ship channel referred to is entirely protected from the seaward 
 side of the Indian keys. 
 
 Estero del Pino is an indentation in the extreme projection about 
 the center of the western coast of the Isle of Pines, and is fed by a 
 small stream which rises in the vicinity of San Jose, a village on 
 the western slope of the sierra of the same name, and at the ter- 
 minus of the trail extending from Nueva Gerona west to Santa 
 Teresa and Las Nuevas, thence SSW. to San Jose. From this 
 point a road is projected along the western and southwestern base 
 of Sierra de San Jose to Canada, in the sierra of that name, an 
 important road center in the southwestern part of the island. 
 
 The land in this vicinity conforms to the general topography of 
 the country and has patches of soil suitable to the cultivation of 
 the staples of the island. 
 
16 
 
 The estuary has two mouths, that on the north 1 foot deep and 
 111 feet wide, the other, on the sonth, 3 feet deep and about 140 
 yards wide. In the vicinity, along the shore, are salt swamps 
 and lakes. 
 
 On the southern coast, which is rocky and dangerous, is the 
 small harbor of Carapachivey, on a pathway on rocky ledges. 
 
 On the northwest coast is the small shallow bay of Barcos, and 
 on the southeast coast the small bay of Cienaga. (See Topography.) 
 
 The only two landings — Nueva Gerona, on the Rio Sierra de 
 Casas, and Jucaro, on the Rio Santa Fe — are accessible to vessels 
 drawing 5 feet of water, owing to the shallowness of the bars at 
 the river mouth. 
 
 The directions referring to the anchorage of Puerto Frances 
 are intended for sailing vessels and based upon the idea that 
 such vessels may have to get under way suddenly with an 
 unfavorable wind. For other vessels a better anchorage is found 
 in the bight north of Point Pedernales, with that point bearing 
 S. 3° W. true and in from 5 to 9 fathoms of water. This anchor- 
 age has been repeatedly occupied by United States vessels and 
 found very satisfactory, the holding ground being found good all 
 over this part of the bight. 
 
 Carapachivey Cove, on the south coast, approximate position 
 latitude 21° 26' 45" K, longitude 82° 55' 39"'W., is of considerable 
 size, affording a safe and commodious anchorage well sheltered to 
 the northward between west-northwest and east-southeast and 
 offering a convenient refuge for vessels of any size from northerly 
 gales. The bottom is of hard coral and holding ground is not 
 good enough for strong onshore winds. The soundings range 
 from 3 to 8 feet near the shore, 10 to 30 feet in the center, and 
 from 30 to 75 feet at the entrance to the cove. 
 
 The cove may be found by bringing the middle and largest of 
 three prominent peaks in the interior of the Isle of Pines to bear 
 about N. 8° 30' E. true and standing in on this bearing. It may 
 further be recognized by a large and conspicuous Cuban house on 
 the northwestern side of the cove. This house is surrounded by 
 cocoanut trees, and near it are five other cocoanut trees in a row. 
 
 A good anchorage may be found With the Cuban house on the 
 northwest side of the cove bearing about 1ST. 17° W. true, and the 
 eastern point of the cove S. 53° E. true. 
 
 In the northeastern part of the cove is a small anchorage, marked 
 by stakes, where fishing vessels find good shelter in 8 feet of water. 
 
 The tides are reported to have a range of from 2 to 2£ feet. 
 
 No supplies of water can be had here. 
 
 About 3 miles to the eastward of Carapachivey is another cove 
 closed by a chain of rocks, visible some distance offshore. 
 
17 
 
 A recent hyd.rograph.ic examination shows that the line of reefs 
 which extends along the whole southern border of the Jardines 
 and Jardinillos makes a pronounced dip to the southward. In 
 this longitude the reef is from 2 to 3 miles farther off the cays 
 than is indicated on existing charts. The cays are themselves 
 about 3 miles farther south than charted. 
 
 The reef, as it recedes on either side of this section, has rather 
 more water and breaks less conspicuously, so that a vessel standing 
 in from the southward upon this most advanced point of the reef, 
 or observing it from that side, seems to have to do with an isolated 
 reef. 
 
 A large number of lines of soundings were run over an area 
 some 10 miles square extending east, west, and south of this point. 
 There is no other shoal in the vicinity. 
 
 The bank all along this part of the reef lies from i to f mile off 
 the breakers, soundings beginning in 15 and 17 fathoms at the 
 edge of the bank. The breakers can be plainly seen at a distance 
 of several miles. 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 The United States railroad systems having terminals at south 
 Atlantic and Gulf ports are in touch with the island via Habana 
 as follows : 
 
 Pennsylvania Railroad and southern connections via Tampa or 
 Miami to Habana. 
 
 Louisville and Nashville Railroad and steamers from Pensacola, 
 also from New Orleans, and steamship line to Habana. 
 
 From Habana south by railway, 25 miles, to Batabano, two* 
 hours ; thence to Santa Fe and Nueva Gerona by weekly steamer.. 
 The entire trip consumes about ten hours. Also weekly connec- 
 tions with* other points on the south coast. 
 
 Joint rates, concurred in by all the lines interested, are as 
 follows : 
 
 From New York or Philadelphia, Pa., Pennsylvania Railroad to 
 Washington and via southern connections, Washington Southern 
 Railway and Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad to 
 Richmond; Atlantic Coatt Line to Charleston and Plant System 
 to Port Tampa, or Plant System to Jacksonville, and Florida 
 East Coast Railway to Miami ; Port Tampa or Miami via Penin- 
 sular and Occidental Steamship Company (single rate), $54.50. 
 
 From Habana , Cuba, to Batabano by railroad, thence to Nueva 
 Gerona, Isle of Pines, by steamer, $10.50 (gold); the rate from 
 Washington to Habana, $54.50. 
 
 The Louisville and Nashville System affords through rail con- 
 nections from Cincinnati, Louisville, or St. Louis to Pensacola, 
 
18 
 
 connecting with the Louisville and Nashville Steamship Company 
 at Pensacola, Fla., or the steamship line from New Orleans, La., 
 to Habana, Cuba, thence to Nueva Gerona via Batabano. 
 
 TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
 
 NUEVA GERONA, ISLE OF PINES, TO POINTS ON THE MAINLAND OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 From Nueva Gerona to- 
 
 Miles. 
 
 Batabano, Cuba, water -_ 54 
 
 Habana via Batabano, water, 54 miles, rail, 36 miles ._ 90 
 
 From Habana {Distance from Habana to points named in United States add 90 
 miles distance from Nueva Gerona to. Habana via Batabano) . 
 
 
 United Stages. 
 Distance via 
 Port Tampa. 
 
 United States. 
 Distance via 
 New York. 
 
 Cuba. 
 Distance by — 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 
 Kail. 
 
 Water. 
 
 Rail. 
 
 Water. 
 
 Rail. 
 
 Water. 
 
 
 To— 
 
 603 
 
 337 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 388 
 188 
 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 
 
 
 
 
 1,056 
 
 337 
 
 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 
 1,474 
 
 337 
 
 217 
 
 411 
 
 739 
 
 847 
 
 912 
 
 757 
 
 584 
 
 1,937 
 
 1,268 
 
 662 
 
 3,149 
 
 825 
 995 
 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 2,469 
 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 
 
 Buffalo N T 
 
 
 
 
 Charleston, S. C* — 
 Chattanooga, Tenn 
 
 504 
 741 
 1, 334 
 1,079 
 1,323 
 2,120 
 1,539 
 1,340 
 3,571 
 
 1,160 
 249 
 
 337 
 
 337 
 
 337 
 
 *337 
 
 337 
 
 *337 
 
 *337 
 
 337 
 
 * 1,456 
 
 *337 
 337 
 
 
 738 
 
 * 738 miles direct by water. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *Via Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *Via Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 
 
 
 * Via Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 
 
 
 *Via Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 Dvea, Alaska 
 Indianapolis, Ind — 
 
 
 
 *Via Chicago, 111., and Seattle, 
 
 
 
 Wash. 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 87 
 
 
 
 
 3,229 
 1,157 
 
 8,648 
 1,350 
 
 > 
 
 
 *Via Nagasaki. Japan. 
 
 Memphis, Tenn 
 
 * 1,021 
 
 337 
 
 
 
 * Via Atlanta, Ga. 
 
 
 240 
 
 
 
 * 1,419 
 892 
 1,244 
 2,653 
 1,623 
 1,153 
 
 337 
 
 337 
 
 *337 
 
 *337 
 
 337 
 
 *337 
 
 997 
 
 998 
 
 2,435 
 
 1, 405 
 
 91 
 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 Ogden, Utah 
 Omaha, Nebr.* 
 Philadelphia, Pa 
 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 337 
 
 
 Portland, Oreg 
 
 *3,442 
 886 
 1,442 
 3,352 
 389 
 1,210 
 1,744 
 1,016 
 1,126 
 
 337 
 337 
 337 
 ' 337 
 *337 
 337 
 337 
 337 
 337 
 
 3,224 
 
 343 
 
 1,918 
 
 3, 229 
 
 840 
 
 1,065 
 
 1,322 
 
 228 
 
 118 
 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 1,350 
 
 
 * Via Jacksonville, Fla. 
 
 
 
 
 San Antonio, Tex — 
 
 San Francisco, Cal 
 
 Savannah, Ga 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 705 miles direct by water. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Washington, D. C — 
 Wilmington, Del 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 The cienaga in the south is inaccessible except by footpath on 
 the land side and by sail from Nueva Gerona. 
 
 CABLE, TELEGRAPH, AND TELEPHONE. 
 
 The nearest cable and telegraph station in commanication with 
 the United States is Batabano, 65 miles on the mainland of Cuba, 
 reached by steamer. A telephone line connects Nueva Gerona and 
 Santa Fe with a projected extension to Jucaro. 
 
19 
 
 ROADS AND TRAILS. 
 
 Several roads or trails extend to all parts of the island, begin- 
 ning at Nueva Gerona; one south to Santa Fe, and thence contin- 
 ning across the eastern, end of Cienaga Lagoon, communicates 
 with the south coast at Punta Brava. Another from Nueva Gerona 
 and still another from Santa Fe unite and terminate on the north- 
 eastern shore of Siguanea Bay. From these main lines branch 
 roads or trails extend to the villages of the interior. 
 
 The Sierra de los Cristales, or Crystal Hill, an elevated summit 
 about the center of the island 12 miles from Santa Fe, is reached 
 over a good road through a wild but picturesque country alter- 
 nating between beautiful meadows and pine forests. The sides of 
 the hill are barren and rocky and without vegetation. From its 
 summit may be seen Nueva Gerona to the north, the Sierras 
 Daquilla and de la Canada screening the great swamps on the east 
 and west, and over intervening hills and valleys the blue ocean 
 stretching toward the Spanish Main of old. 
 
 POPULATION AND TOWNS. 
 
 The inhabitants of the island are Spanish and colored, and 
 exhibit in their intercourse with strangers a dignified and kindly 
 spirit. For many years the Isle of Pines was a penal colony for 
 Cuban revolutionists. The language is Spanish. 
 
 There are 114 city properties on record, valued at $22,800. 
 
 The island has two towns and one port. 
 
 Nueva Gerona (New Gerona). — This town, the capital and 
 second town in size, lies on the left bank of the Sierra de las Casas 
 River, 2 miles above its mouth on the north coast. It is advanta- 
 geously situated on a picturesque plateau, between the Caballos 
 and Casas mountains at the base of the latter, about 30 feet above 
 the sea and the swamps at the mouth of the river. It is well 
 drained and, exposed to the constant breezes from the sea, free 
 from malarial influence. Its water comes from a magnesian 
 spring, said to be very beneficial in cases of stomach trouble, and 
 baths have been built into which water from the same spring is 
 conducted. The town has an American hotel, an ice plant, and 
 telephone connection with Santa Fe and a projected extension to 
 Jucaro. 
 
 Just outside of the town, on an open plateau, are the barracks, 
 a large stone building with interior courts, capable of accommo- 
 dating comfortably 200 American troops, and of affording shelter, 
 if necessary, to double that number. 
 
 There is a wharf at the town at which the steamer from Bata- 
 bano lands once a week; also a church. Population 1,000. In 
 the taking of the American census of 1899 it was an important 
 center of enumeration. It also is an American post office. 
 
20 
 
 Santa Fe. — On both banks of the river of the same name, 15 
 miles SSE. of Nueva Gerona, of which it is officially a suburb (bar- 
 rio), and has an American post office. There are some fine drives 
 and walks in the vicinity. The country is somewhat flat in the 
 neighborhood and more rolling inland. The port of the town, Jucaro, 
 is about 7 miles distant. Santa Fe is a place of 1,050 inhabitants, 
 two hotels, a church, thermal baths of about blood temperature, 
 medicinal springs of magnesia and iron, favorably known and 
 patronized from Habana in the summer. A consulting surgeon, 
 under Spanish jurisdiction, resided here for the benefit of invalids. 
 
 In the United States census enumeration of the inhabitants in 
 1899 this town was an important subdivision. 
 
 Jucaro, the port of Santa Fe, on the river of that name, at a 
 distance of 7 miles, is connected by a fine road. A steamer touches 
 here once a week. The means of communication with Santa Fe is 
 by the volante or ox cart. 
 
 TOWNS, VILLAGES, AND HACIENDAS. 
 
 In addition to these three important centers are twenty-six 
 villages or haciendas scattered throughout the island, as follows : 
 
 Acosta. — A fishing village on the peninsula of Port Frances, 
 near the west shore of Siguanea Bay, in the extreme southwest. 
 
 Almacijos. — A village at the headwaters of the western tribu- 
 tary of the Santa Fe River west by south and a few miles above 
 the town of that name. 
 
 Asciento de Santa Fe. — A hamlet on a road southeast of the 
 town and on the right bank of the river of that name. Thermal 
 springs which line the bank of the stream are also found in this 
 vicinity. 
 
 Caleta Grande. — A hamlet on the Caribbean Sea or the south- 
 west shore of the Puerto Frances Peninsula. It was a subdivision 
 of the census enumeration district of 1899. 
 
 Canada. — A village at the base of the sierra of that name on 
 the main road to Rosario and Nueva Gerona in the west part of 
 the island. 
 
 Carapachivey. — An isolated fishing village about the center 
 of the salt lagoon on the south, reached from the highland by the 
 rocky ledges which rise above the soft surrounding surface. 
 
 Carboneras. — A subdivision of the census enumeration district 
 of 1899. 
 
 Caudal. — A fishing village in the eastern part of the salt lagoon 
 on the south, on the pathway from the highland to Punta Brava on 
 the south coast. 
 
21 
 
 Cuchilla Alta. — A subdivision of the census enumeration dis- 
 trict of 1899. 
 
 Jorobado. — A fishing village in the salt marsh near the inlet of 
 the same name on the* south coast. 
 
 Jucaro. — See "Population and towns." 
 
 Hospital. — A hamlet in the sierra foothills about the center of 
 the island between the Santiago and Jagua rivers. 
 
 Lacunagua. — A village at the forks of the Santa Fe and San 
 . Pedro road in the south central part of the highlands. 
 
 Las Nuevas. — A village in the extreme northwest, near the 
 coast, on the road midway between Nueva Gerona and San Jose\ 
 
 Nueva Gerona. —See ' ' Population and towns. " 
 
 Llevat. — A fishing village near Cape Frances on the peninsula 
 of that name on the west shore of Siguanea Bay in the southwest. 
 
 Palma Alta. — A fishing village on the pathway across the east- 
 ern part of the Cienaga between Caudal and Punta Brava on the 
 south coast. 
 
 Rosario. — An important road center in the northwestern part 
 near the right bank of the River del Callejon. 
 
 San Jose. — On the west coast road near the head of a small 
 stream entering the Estuary del Pino. It is surrounded by a fer- 
 tile country. 
 
 San Juan. — At the headwaters of a stream of the same name at 
 the terminus of a road southeast from Santa Fe near the coast. 
 
 San Pedro. — On the stream of that name. It is an important 
 road center in the southwest part of the island leading to the land- 
 ing at Casimbas on the east shore of Siguanea Bay. 
 
 San Antonio. — On the right bank of the Rio de los Indios 
 near its mouth on the north coast. 
 
 San Francisco de las Piedras.— About the center of the island 
 at the junction of four roads from Nueva Gerona (north), Santa Fe 
 (east by south), Lacunagua (south), Canada (southwest), and Las 
 Nuevas (northwest). 
 
 Santa Fe. — See "Population and towns." 
 
 Santa Rita de la Jagua. — On the borders of the Cienaga at 
 the forks of the main Punta Brava road, across the salt lagoon to 
 Santa Fe (northeast) and San Pedro (west). 
 
 Santa Rosalia. — In the north central part, on the road between 
 Santa Fe and Nueva Gerona, nearer the latter point. 
 
 Santa Teresa. — In the northwest, on the road from Nueva 
 Gerona to Las Nuevas, about a mile east of the latter. 
 
 Seiba. — About the center of the island, at the base of the sierra 
 of that name, near the junction of the San Francisco de las Piedras 
 and Lacunagua roads to Santa Fe. 
 
22 
 
 Sierra de Caballos. — A hamlet in the hills of that name in 
 the extreme northeast, and a subdivision in the census enumera- 
 tion district of the island. 
 
 Sierra de Casas. — A hamlet in the north at the junction of 
 the San Francisco de las Piedras and Las Nuevas roads to San 
 Gerona and a subdivision in the census enumeration district of 1899. 
 
 CENSUS. 
 
 The report of the census of Cuba, 1899, War Department, office 
 Director Census of Cuba, gives the following results with respect 
 to the Isle of Pines, a municipal district of the Province of Habana : 
 
 Total Spanish' enumeration December 31, 1887 2,040 
 
 Total United States enumeration, 1899 3,199 
 
 Total gain 12 years 1,159 
 
 By wards and by cities, 1899, Isle of Pines district : 
 
 Calete Grande 315 
 
 Santa Fe 1,050 
 
 Remainder of district 1, 834 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 Rural population with area and density by municipal districts : 
 
 Rural population 3, 199 
 
 Area in square miles (986 square miles, Div. I. A., 1902) 840 
 
 Density per square mile (3. 24, Div. I. A. , 1902) 3.8 
 
 Sex, general, nativity and color, all classes : 
 
 Male '. 1,782 
 
 Female 1,417 
 
 Total . 3,199 
 
 Native white : 
 
 Male '. 1,309 
 
 Female 1,171 
 
 Total 2,480 
 
 Foreign white : 
 
 Male 185 
 
 Female 13 
 
 Total 198 
 
 Percentage of population by sex, general nativity, and color : 
 Sex — 
 
 Male 55.7 
 
 Female 44.3 
 
 Nativity and color — 
 
 Native whites 77. 5 
 
 Foreign whites 6. 2 
 
 Colored :'_ 16.3 
 
23 
 
 \ge and sex : 
 
 Under 5 years — 
 
 Male 195 
 
 Female 158 
 
 5 to 17 years — 
 
 Male : 547 
 
 Female ___ 528 
 
 18 to 20 years — 
 
 Male 106 
 
 Female , 97 
 
 21 to 44 years — 
 
 Male---- ----- 671 
 
 Female l - 473 
 
 45 years and over — 
 
 Male...- 263 
 
 Female 161 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 Birthplace : 
 
 Cuba ..-- 2,990 
 
 Spain 195 
 
 Other countries 14 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 Citizenship : 
 
 Cuban 2,818 
 
 Spanish 32 
 
 In suspense 334 
 
 Other citizenship 15 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 Males 21 years of age and over, according to citizenship, literacy, and edu- 
 cation : 
 Whites born in Cuba — 
 Cuban citizenship — 
 
 Can neither read nor write 316 
 
 Can read but not write 2 
 
 Can read and write 283 
 
 With superior education.-- 13 
 
 Spanish citizenship, can read and write 2 
 
 Citizenship in suspense, can read and write 1 
 
 Total 617 
 
 Whites born in Spain — 
 
 Spanish citizenship — 
 
 Can neither read nor write 1 
 
 Can read and write 6 
 
 With superior education 1 
 
 Citizenship in suspense — 
 
 Can neither read nor write 47 
 
 Can read but not write 2 
 
 Can read and write 103 
 
 With superior education 4 
 
 Total 164 
 
24 
 
 Males 21 years of age and over, according to citizenship, etc. — Continued. 
 Whites born in other countries — 
 
 Foreign and unknown citizenship — 
 
 Can neither read nor write 2 
 
 Can read and write 1 
 
 Total „... 3 
 
 Colored — 
 
 Can neither read nor write 110 
 
 Can read but can not write 2 
 
 Can read and write 33 
 
 Foreign and unknown citizenship, can neither read nor write 5 
 
 Total 150 
 
 Conjugal condition: 
 
 Single 2,184 
 
 Married 774 
 
 Living together as husband and wife by mutual consent 56 
 
 Widowed 184 
 
 Unknown 1 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 School attendance, literary and superior education : 
 
 Under 10 years of age — 
 
 Attended school 38 
 
 Did not attend school 784 
 
 Ten years of age and over — 
 
 Attended school -...- 37 
 
 Can neither read nor write 1,343 
 
 Can read but can not write. 42 
 
 Can read and write .. 954 
 
 Not stated 1 
 
 Superior education — 
 
 Yes 22 
 
 No 3,177 
 
 Total 3,199 
 
 OCCUPATIONS, CENSUS OP 1899. 
 
 
 Total 
 popula- 
 tion. 
 
 Agricul- 
 ture, fish- 
 eries, and 
 
 mining. 
 
 Trade and 
 
 trans- 
 portation. 
 
 Manufac- 
 ture and 
 mechan- 
 ical in- 
 dustries. 
 
 Pro- 
 fessional 
 service. 
 
 Domestic 
 
 and 
 personal 
 service. 
 
 Without 
 gainful 
 occupa- 
 tion. 
 
 Total 
 
 3,199 
 
 403 
 
 140 
 
 S4 
 
 9 
 
 647 
 
 1,916 
 
 
 
 Males 
 
 1,782 
 1,417 
 
 403 
 
 138 
 o 
 
 S4 
 
 7 
 o 
 
 614 
 33 
 
 536 
 
 
 1,380 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2,4S0 
 
 255 
 
 7S 
 
 57 
 
 6 
 
 468 
 
 1,616 
 
 
 
 Males 
 
 1,309 
 1,171 
 
 255 
 
 77 
 
 1 
 
 57 
 
 5 
 1 
 
 464 
 4 
 
 451 
 
 
 1,165 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 198 
 
 52 
 
 49 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 61 
 
 21 
 
 
 
 Males 
 
 185 
 13 
 
 52 
 
 48 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 1 
 
 60 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 521 
 
 96 
 
 13 
 
 15 
 
 
 118 
 
 279 
 
 
 
 
 
 288 
 233 
 
 96 
 
 13 
 
 15 
 
 
 90 
 28 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 205 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25 
 
 Number and size of families : 
 
 Total population 3,199 
 
 Total number of families 572 
 
 Average size, 5.6 persons to a family; of 1 person, 34; 2, 53; 3, 84; 4, 
 82; 5, 77; 6, 64; 7, 39; 8, 39; 9, 36; 10, 25; 11 to 15, 30; 16 to 20, 6; 
 21 and over, 3. 
 
 Dwellings and families : 
 
 Unoccupied buildings 48 
 
 Occur ied dwellings 546 
 
 Number of families _-- 572 
 
 Persons to a family 5.6 
 
 Persons to a dwelling 5.9 
 
 Families to a dwelling .■ 1 
 
 Disposition of excreta : 
 
 Occupied dwellings 546 
 
 Cesspool 211 
 
 Sewer 4 
 
 None r 319 
 
 Not stated 11 
 
 Agriculture : 
 
 Farm areas, in caballerias (33£ U. S. acres = 1 caballeria). 
 
 Number of farms 94 
 
 Total area 7,030.96 
 
 Area in cultivation, 1899 25.69 
 
 Area cultivated in 1895 14*. 72 
 
 Large timber 1,233.31 
 
 Small timber 93.06 
 
 DEPENDENT ISLANDS. 
 
 The eastern, northern, and western shores of the island are sur- 
 rounded by a number of keys, through which the mainland may 
 be approached by means of intricate passages only known to the 
 local pilots. Although the waters off the Cienaga on the south are 
 clear of these coral and sand formations, the Cienaga itself is an 
 impassable barrier except by a single causeway to access from that 
 direction. 
 
 Piedras, Cayo de. — A key separating the Cienagas (Salt la- 
 goons) on the east and west and the line of the causeway between 
 the highland and Punta Brava. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Of the land lying north of the Cienaga, the swamp and low 
 ground with mangroves is estimated at 25 per cent ; the savannas 
 covered with these mangroves and scrub palmetto at 25 per cent ; 
 land of doubtful agricultural value, 10 per cent; rich land, 10 per 
 cent ; mountains and steep hills, 5 per cent ; pine lands unsuitable 
 for agriculture, 25 per cent. 
 
 Of the land denominated rich, a very small percentage is actually 
 under cultivation, but the nature of the growth upon it shows the 
 
26 
 
 value of the soil. Of the entire surface of the island, but 1 per 
 cent is now under cultivation, viz: 117 caballerias, or 3,900 acres 
 (1 caballeria = 33^- U. S. acres), in a total of 14,117 caballerias. 
 
 As an example of the wonderful variety of product, a finca or 
 farm of less than 33 acres actual cultivation produces coffee, sugar, 
 chocolate (cocoa), cocoanuts, plantains, bananas, boniatos (sweet 
 potatoes), yuca (cassava), (furnishing laundry starch), malangoes 
 (answering for potatoes), rice, beans, lettuce, tobacco, honey, 
 fowls, pigs, and cattle; also a few pineapples for home use. 
 
 The rich arable land of the island is not found in large tracts, 
 but in scattered patches among the hills — suitable for tobacco 
 rather than for sugar plantations. 
 
 The demand for consumption in the island is small, and the 
 freight rates to the mainland high, hence the only agricultural 
 product that finds a ready market, and commands cash, is tobacco. 
 
 Of this staple the island exported in 1899 about 5,000 bales (of 
 100 pounds each). In 1900 the product was less, as the workers 
 who had come from Cuba, to escape the war, returned to their old 
 homes, where the reputation of the leaf, if not its actual superi- 
 ority, gives the laborer who cultivates on shares a larger return 
 for his work. Tobacco from this island sells in Habana at the 
 highest market rates. The cultivation of sugar in 1900 was con- 
 fined to a single estate. 
 
 VEGETABLE PRODUCTS. 
 
 In addition to tobacco, the staple of the island, the following 
 vegetable products are raised: Boniato, or sweet potato, which 
 has a particularly fine flavor, and with reduced rates to Cuba, 
 should become a marketable product; cocoa (chocolate), raised 
 only experimentally, but the fruit appears to be fine ; cocoanuts 
 yield abundantly, though few trees have been planted. This 
 could easily become an article of export. 
 
 Coffee has so far been raised only for experiment, but the 
 quality seems to be fair, and with cultivators who understand the 
 work good results might be obtained. Manga (answering as 
 potato) is grown without irrigation and yields well, fine quality. 
 Rice also grows well without irrigation. Sugar cane at present 
 raised in the island is for home use only ; the juice is extracted 
 by a crude wooden mill and boiled down in a large open kettle, 
 making a dark coarse sugar unfit for export. Yuca (used for 
 starch) grows without irrigation and yields well. The Indian corn 
 (maize) also flourishes. About 112 estates on the island are mostly 
 devoted to tobacco raising. Of some products two crops are grown. 
 
 The climate tropical and the soil a mixture of rich loam and 
 sand present conditions suitable not only for the cultivation of all 
 
27 
 
 the products of that zone, but in addition to tobacco, coffee, and 
 sugar cane is mentioned rubber. 
 
 The mainland of Mexico and Central America, almost in sight, 
 produces some of the best rubber in the world. The conditions of 
 soil and climate on the Isle of Pines being the same., it is claimed, 
 should make rubber production a profitable industry. The growth 
 of gutta-percha, which is generally found in the same zone, would 
 also make a particularly valuable addition to the productive wealth 
 of the island. For the production of gutta-percha Holland, Great 
 Britain, and France have established extensive plantations and 
 nurseries in their tropical possessions. 
 
 MINERALS. 
 
 The only mineral product of importance is the marble, which is 
 found in the two mountains east and west of New Gerona on the 
 north coast. It was worked extensively about thirty years ago, 
 the ruins of a steam plant for sawing and polishing the slabs 
 showing that much money was put into the enterprise. It is said 
 that for reasons of its own the government looked with disfavor 
 on the enterprise and to discourage it levied a duty upon the sand 
 used in sawing, which was hauled from the shore, a mile from the 
 quarry. This imposition killed the enterprise. About twelve 
 years ago, a few cargoes of marble blocks were gotten out and 
 shipped to Habana to be sawed up and worked there. Since then 
 nothing has been done. The marble is of good quality, ranging 
 from a good white statuary, through various shades of blue-veined 
 stone to marble of a dark gray, also specimens with pinkish color- 
 ing. There are in the island no samples of very brilliant polish, 
 but, judging from the crystallization of some of the blocks, good 
 results should be obtainable with proper methods. The rock 
 crystals gathered on the hill of that name are much prized by 
 casual visitors. 
 
 The quality of the marble is reported by experts to be suitable 
 for the finest statuary, the color being the purest white. Other 
 varieties of different hues are suitable for ornamentation and art, 
 as they take on an excellent polish. The stone is free from cracks 
 and will furnish slabs of any size, the deposits varying from 5 to 25 
 feet in thickness. They are also situated to meet all requirements 
 of convenient and economical transportation to points of shipment 
 on the coast. 
 
 The old workings have done little but step the surface of a cliff 
 of weather-worn rock. The amount of material in sight is unlim- 
 ited. The old works have a most advantageous location, where a 
 short haul over a good road leads to an old pier. 
 
 A good quality of brick clay is found in the island. At ISTew 
 Gerona are the ruins of an extensive brickyard whence bricks, 
 
flooring tiles, and roofing tiles were formerly shipped to Habana. 
 Silver and iron are also reported. 
 
 A salt deposit 1,472 feet long lies near Salinas Point. From this 
 to the third Salinas Point the land forms large clean salt pits, 
 without trees, easy to work, and which increase in width for 
 some distance. 
 
 FORESTS. 
 
 The' flora of the island combines many of the varieties of Flor- 
 ida with the large hard- wood trees of Central America and Mexico, 
 and singularly the pine, a characteristic of the temperate zone, 
 which grows over the greater part of the island. 
 
 In the forests of this promising little isle of the Antilles are 
 found extensive groves of the Oreodoxa regio (royal palm) and 
 twenty- six other varieties of the same numerous family — the ma- 
 hogany, lignum-vitge, coco wood, from which reed instruments 
 are made ; cedrela odorata, used in the manufacture of cigar boxes 
 and the lining of cabinet woods, also producing an aromatic oil dis- 
 tilled from its wood ; and fustic or logwood, a dyestuff the product 
 of cholophora, known as yellow or Cuba Avood or old fustic. 
 
 In the swamps on the southern side of the island, accessible only 
 "by sea, are found all the mahogany and most of the other valuable 
 woods on the island. 
 
 Reclus in his "Universal Geography," Volume XVII, says: 
 "All the large trees of the Mexican coast, so remarkable for their 
 majestic growth, for the beauty of their foliage, the splendor and 
 fragrance of their flowers, reappear on the Cuba seaboard. Over 
 thirty species of palms are here met in association with trees such 
 as the pine, which would seem so characteristic of the temperate 
 zone and which gives its name to the "Pinos" Island, where it is 
 found intermingled with palms and mahogany." 
 
 The indigenous trees of the Tropics are found side by side with 
 the wild pine from which the island takes its name. 
 
 There are at present two small steam saw mills in the island, one 
 in actual running order. There is a large area of pine forests, 
 but the logs large enough for sawing are found only in small 
 stretches west of the center of the island. The tall pines fur- 
 nish for exportation railway ties, telegraph poles, poles for the 
 roofs of native Cuban huts and for hanging tobacco during the 
 curing process. 
 
 There are no statistics available from which the amount and 
 the quality of the hard woods on the southern part of the island 
 can be estimated. 
 
 There appears to have been no very regular trade. While much 
 fine wood exists it is not of sufficient size and in sufficient quantity 
 to warrant the expense of getting it to the water, over the difficult 
 
29 
 
 rocky ground, in which it grows. The most accessible localities 
 have already been culled, and it is said that to take out the best 
 timber portable railways will have to be used. After the date of 
 the approval of the estimate for forests, 1900-01, the military gov- 
 ernor of Cuba created the office of ' ' inspector of forests for the 
 Isle of Pines." 
 
 One of the principal sources of wealth is lumber, eleven forest 
 grants having been made to the year 1900. 
 
 FRUITS. 
 
 The cultivated and wild fruits are celebrated for their quality 
 and grow abundantly, as follows : 
 
 Aguacatb (alligator pear), one of the most popular fruits in 
 the Antilles, pear-shaped, of green or purple, and often weighs as 
 high as 2 pounds. On account of the pulp being firm and marrow- 
 like, it is also known as vegetable marrow or midshipman's butter. 
 A very good oil for soap comes from its seed. The tree is an ever- 
 green about 25 or 30 feet high. 
 
 Banana (platano). — Many varieties of this well-known fruit 
 exist and take the place of bread in all. country families, being- 
 eaten raw or cooked in many different ways. 
 
 Caimito. — Some are purple on the outside and others dark 
 green. Inside it has a milky fibrous meat, quite sweet and starchy, 
 and a number of round black seeds. It grows on a tree. 
 
 Chirimova (cherimoyer, or custard apple). — A heart-shaped 
 fruit, quite sweet, with a slightly acid taste and very refreshing. 
 It has a scaly exterior and contains, numerous seeds buried in a 
 pulp. It is sometimes known as bullock's heart, on account of its 
 size and shape. It grows on trees about 25 or 30 feet high. 
 
 Cocoanut (cocoa). — Fruits in bunches of from 12 to 20 on a tree 
 from 60 to 90 feet high. The nut when fresh contains nearly 1 
 quart of milk, very much esteemed by the natives as a refresh- 
 ment. The thick rind or husk surrounding the nut is used in 
 making cordage, matting, brushes, bags, etc. A valuable oil is 
 obtained from the nut which is well known to commerce. 
 
 Figs (higos) of all kinds grow luxuriantly. 
 
 Granadilla. — A fruit grown on a vine which also bears the 
 passion flower. It is generally as large as a child's head. It is 
 very much liked by the natives, who use it in making refreshments 
 and desserts. The meat is glutinous and contains many small 
 seeds. 
 
 Guanabana. — A large fruit about the size of a muskmelon with 
 many seeds and fibrous meat having a delicate flavor. Used for 
 making refreshments, ices, and preserves. Also eaten in its 
 natural state. 
 
30 
 
 Guava. — A "black, globose, pulpy fruit with an agreeable acid 
 flavor, used in making jelly, marmalade, etc. It is largely culti- 
 vated in tropical countries, there being two varieties, the red or 
 apple-shaped and the white or pear-shaped. 
 
 Lima. — Something like a lime, and has the flavor of the grape. 
 
 Lime (limon) or citrus, resembling a lemon, but smaller; the 
 product of the citrus limelta tree. The juice is used in cooling 
 beverages in the Tropics, and is especially in demand in summer 
 in higher latitudes. It is also boiled and used in fevers. 
 
 Mammee-Sapota. — A tree that yields a fruit the juice of which 
 resembles marmalade. It is known locally as the "mamey Colo- 
 rado." 
 
 Mamoncillo grows in clusters ; it is a species of plum, tart, and 
 has one fibrous pit. 
 
 Mango. — A fruit shaped somewhat like a pear, but attached to 
 the tree by the larger end. The meat is fibrous and clings to the 
 seed the same as happens with a clingstone peach. It is generally 
 eaten in its natural state, but when green is sometimes boiled as 
 a vegetable. Its flavor, when ripe, is a combination of apricot and 
 pineapple. There are several varieties of this fruit. The tree is 
 30 or 35 feet high. 
 
 Maranon.— Similar to a persimmon, heart-shaped, and has a 
 heart-shaped seed on the outside which is roasted and eaten as a 
 chestnut. 
 
 Oranges. — This fruit of commerce in fine varieties grows abun- 
 dantly, both cultivated and wild. 
 
 Papaya (paw-paw). — About 10 inches long, commonly of an 
 oblong form, ribbed, and having a thick fleshy rind. It is eaten 
 raw, or when green is boiled as a vegetable and is also pickled. 
 The tree is about 20 feet high and has large leaves. Meat boiled 
 with a small portion of the leaf is made tender, or this can be done 
 by simply hanging the meat among the leaves. The seeds are 
 used as a vermifuge. 
 
 Pineapple (pina). — Several varieties of this fruit grow in the 
 island, and with proper cultivatiou may be a valuable product. 
 
 Sapodillo (plum).— Small brown fruit with a black seed like a 
 watermelon, and juice which disappears with incipient decay, when 
 the fruit becomes very sugary. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 
 The mechanical industries are tobacco manufacturing, quarry- 
 ing, weaving for home consumption, cutting and sawing lumber 
 and working into poles and railroad ties, and charcoal burning ; 
 also forest products, turpentine, pitch, and tar. Recent returns 
 give 54 industrial and commercial establishments. 
 
31 
 
 Other industries are fishing, the shallow adjacent waters abound- 
 ing in fine marketable fish, lobsters, and turtles. 
 
 The raising of horses, which are small but hardy and good road- 
 sters, and cattle, much depleted as to numbers at the outbreak of 
 the war, is an important occupation, the valleys and hillsides being 
 covered with nutritious grasses. Pigs are also raised in large 
 numbers, the wild fruits and seeds furnishing abundant food. At 
 the close of 1899 there were 4,164 horned cattle, 1,231 horses, 144 
 mules, and 3,396 hogs and goats. 
 
 Among the various American enterprises may be mentioned a 
 new hotel ; an ice plant ; a dentist's office ; a grocery establishment ; 
 blacksmith shop ; turpentine plant ; and orange-growing and truck- 
 gardening for United States markets. Prospectors interested in 
 other occupations are also looking over the ground. 
 
 FAUNA. 
 
 There are no wild animals which might be classed as game on 
 the land. The iguana furnishes some fine specimens. The species 
 of reptiles are few and none of them venomous. 
 
 Bird life is chiefly represented by the parrot. There are 200 
 varieties of all species. The surrounding waters teem with fish, 
 the red snapper being one of the best; 700 varieties known to 
 science. 
 
 The manati, or sea cow, abounds in the waters along the coast. 
 
 COMMERCE. 
 
 The exports are tobacco, charcoal, lumber, poles, railway ties, 
 tortoise shells, fruits, and parrots, which exist in large numbers. 
 
 The nearest port of entry under the customs system of Cuba is 
 Batabano. That town, on the south coast of Habana province, has 
 a safe port, well sheltered. 
 
 The statistics of exports and imports of the Isle of Pines are not 
 given separately, but are included in the general tables of the 
 entry district. 
 
 COINAGE, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. 
 
 The value of foreign coins, as expressed in the money of account 
 of the United States, is based on the pure metal of such coin of 
 standard value. The standard of the Isle of Pines, taken from the 
 Island of Cuba, is gold and silver, and the monetary unit the peso. 
 
 Coins : 
 
 Doubloon Dollars, U. S-. 5.017 
 
 Peso (silver).. do 0.600 
 
 Peso (gold) do 0.926 
 
32 
 
 Weights : 
 
 Arroba .. Pounds, U. S_. 25.3664 
 
 Libra do 1.0161 
 
 Quintal do 101.6100 
 
 Measures : 
 
 Dry- 
 
 Fanaga ...Bushels, U. S.. 1.599 
 
 Liquid — 
 
 Arroba Gallons, U. S~ 4.263 
 
 Linear — 
 
 Cuerda, 8Jvaras -Feet, U. S:. 23f 
 
 Legua Stat, miles, U. S._ 2.672+ 
 
 Vara -Inches, U. S-_ 33.384 
 
 Square — 
 
 Caballeria Cordels.. 576 
 
 Caballeria Acres, U. S.. 33^ 
 
 Cordel Sq. yards, U. S_. 495.40 
 
 Legua Acres.. 4.633 
 
 Cubic — 
 
 Cuerda (cord) Feet, IT. S~ 128 
 
 CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The island was discovered by Columbus in 1494, who named it 
 "La Evangelista." In the administration of Cuba it became a 
 dependency of Habana, of which province it is a municipality 
 (district). 
 
 It constitutes an ayuntamiento or municipal district of the 
 judicial district of Bejucal, province of Habana, instituted in 1880, 
 with its seat at Nueva Gerona. It was reorganized in July, 1899, 
 under United States military control. 
 
 The ayuntamiento owns two city properties, a bathing establish- 
 ment, 8i caballerias (283 acres) of land formerly held by the gov- 
 ernment, and the cemetery of Nueva Gerona, the value of which 
 is estimated at $8,353. 
 
 In June, 1900, there were eight schools with 155 scholars on the 
 island. 
 
 POLITICAL STATUS. 
 
 The definition of the status of the Isle of Pines in adjustment of 
 the relations between the United States and Cuba is contained in 
 that portion of the act making appropriation for the support of the f 
 Army for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902', approved March 2, 
 1901 (U. S. Stats. L., 56th Cong., 1899-1901, vol. 31, pp. 897-8), which 
 provided that ' ' in the fulfillment of the declaration contained in 
 the joint resolution of Congress April 20, 1898, for the recognition 
 of the independence of the people of Cuba, leaving the government 
 and control of the island to its people," no action shall be taken 
 until "a government shall have been established in said island 
 under a constitution which either as a part thereof or in an ordi- 
 nance appended thereto shall define the future relations of the 
 
33 
 
 United States with Cuba substantially" under the following heads : 
 I. Conditions of Treaties; II. Public debt; III. Intervention by 
 the United States ; IV. Acts of United States during military oc- 
 cupancy ratified ; V. Sanitary measures; VI. Isle of Pines to be 
 omitted from the proposed constitutional boundaries of Cuba, the 
 title thereto being left to future adjustment by treaty; VII. Coal- 
 ing stations ; VIII. By way of further assurance the foregoing to 
 be made part of a treaty. 
 
 HISTORICAL EVENTS. 
 
 Among the historical events off the island was the attack by a 
 Spanish fleet of the expedition under the celebrated British Ad- 
 miral Drake in the sixteenth century returning from Costa Rica. 
 The Englishman, after a desperate encounter against great odds, 
 managed to escape with the loss of one vessel. 
 
 This island in the days of the buccaneers was the headquarters of 
 the pirates in their forays upon the islands of the Antilles and tha 
 Spanish Main. 
 
 PUBLIC LAND, TAXES, AND DUES. 
 
 A report by the collector of customs at Batabano to the chief 
 at Habana, February 22, 1899, gives the following particulars on 
 public lands, former taxes, and dues : 
 
 The only land belonging to the state is embraced in 63 lots, each 
 about 50 acres, scattered within 3 miles of Nueva Gerona. These 
 lots appear to have been left after the land had been picked over, 
 as they are generally in the worst localities and practically worth- 
 less, containing nothing but mangrove scrub, dwarf palmettos, 
 and thin pine grass. A few of the better lots are in use as small 
 farms, the occupants paying, it is alleged, a nominal rent to the 
 hacienda at Habana (no records on this point exist in the island). 
 
 No record of dues paid to the Crown for the privilege of export- 
 ing timber can be found. It is understood that contributions were 
 arbitrarily levied from time to time by the military governor of 
 the island. These "contributions" or "gratifications" were paid, 
 it is said, to secure immunity from official obstruction in the 
 going and coming of vessels from the inaccessible points at which 
 the lumber was gathered. It is presumable that some of these 
 contributions were used for the benefit of the island, but no record 
 appears of the amount or disposition. 
 
 The governor of the island immediately collected dues for the 
 slaughtering of cattle and the selling of meats, and also from stores 
 and shops of all kinds. To meet the difficulty of beef supply at a 
 wood-choppers' camp the governor devised a system of dues based 
 upon the amount of charcoal and cord wood exported, which dues 
 were levied in lieu of those legally authorized. 
 
34 
 
 In accessible camps or "cuttings" the amount of export was 
 actually ascertained; in other "cuttings" more inaccessible a lump 
 sum per month was exacted, based on the number of men 
 employed. 
 
 The quantity of mangrove and other scrubby wood available 
 for charcoal and cord wood is practically unlimited, all the coast 
 of the island and the keys to the north being covered with this 
 growth, and the state does not appear to have collected any dues 
 for the privilege of cutting. The dues seem to have been simply 
 in the nature of town taxes, levied on wood-choppers' camps in 
 order that they should not, by leaving the established towns, 
 escape the burden of taxation. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE ISLE OF PIKES. 
 
 [By C. Willard Hayes, U. S. Geological Survey.] 
 
 The essential elements in the physiography of this island are (1) a low swampy 
 coastal plain, (2) a broad gently undulating interior plain, and (3) ridges and 
 hills rising abruptly from the central plain. 
 
 (1) At a few points along the north side of the island the ridges reach the 
 coast, and the waves have produced sea cliffs. Elsewhere about its eastern, 
 northern, and western sides (as well as in a belt crossing the island south of its 
 center and forming the great cienaga) the island is bordered by a narrow strip 
 of lowland, generally swampy, and covered with a dense growth of mangroves. 
 The shore is often formed by a low sandy beach, back of which is the mangrove 
 swamp. This coastal fringe corresponds in all particulars with the many low 
 sandy keys which border the southern coast of Cuba from Cape Cruz westward. 
 It varies in width from a mere fringe only a few yards in width to a strip 
 several miles broad. Wherever it is present it shows that the island is increasing 
 in area. 
 
 The southern coast of the island is entirely different from that above described. 
 Facing upon the deep Caribbean Sea, where the waves have full unobstructed 
 sweep, conditions are favorable for coral growth, and this portion of the coast 
 is fringed with coral reefs. 
 
 The island has in comparatively recent geologic time stood slightly lower than 
 now. The land now forming the coastal plain was then submerged, and the 
 waves cut a terrace about 50 feet above the present sea level. Nueva Gerona is 
 built on such a terrace, and at various places back of that town the old sea cliff 
 may be observed. It is prominent about the northern ends of both the Sierras 
 de las Casas'and los Caballos. It is also seen on the road from Santa Fe to 
 Jucaro, and a further examination would doubtless show its presence at many 
 other points along the northern and eastern sides of the island. It seems, how- 
 ever, to be entirely absent from the southwestern portion. 
 
 (2) The interior plain occupies probably 75 per cent of the entire surface of 
 the island. ' It varies in altitude between 75 and 110 feet, with a few portions 
 possibly rising to 150 feet above sea level. The surface consists of a succession 
 of gentle swells and depressions, barely enough to relieve the monotony of a 
 dead level. The streams, which are not numerous, flow in broad depressions 
 with gentle slopes. In these depressions the channels are cut from 5 to 15 feet 
 in depth, with steep banks, and proportionate to the volume of the streams. 
 No well developed flood plains are encountered and the streams appear to fill 
 these channels in time of flood. All the streams, except near the coast, show 
 rock in place in their channels. 
 
 This plain is covered for the most part with fine quartz gravel. The smaller 
 pebbles, from i to f inch in diameter, are well rounded and often highly polished. 
 The larger pebbles are more angular with increasing size, and those over 2 inches 
 in diameter have their angles scarcely at all rounded. This gravel is everywhere 
 deep red or black, and the iron and manganese which produce the color have 
 not only stained the surface of the pebbles but have penetrated entirely through, 
 
 (35) 
 
36 
 
 often giving them a metallic luster. In addition to coloring the pebbles, the 
 iron has in many places cemented them into large masses of conglomerate. 
 
 So far as observed this interior plain is everywhere underlain by highly 
 crystalline mica schists. The foliation of the schist strikes nearly north and 
 south, and has a vertical or steep easterly dip. Its surface is always deeply 
 weathered except where streams have cut down and exposed the fresh rock in 
 their channels. The weathered rock passes insensibly upward into the subsoil 
 and that into the surface gravels showing that both are residual, that is, derived 
 directly from the underlying rocks. The schist contains numerous quartz veins 
 and stringers, and it is from these that the gravel is derived. The rounding of 
 the quartz fragments is probably due not to the rolling action of waves or 
 stream currents but to the beating of rain. By this means only the smaller 
 fragments, which can be easily moved by the rain, are rounded, while the larger 
 fragments retain their original angular forms. 
 
 The soil covering this interior plain varies from barren red gravel to dark- 
 gray sandy loam. The former covers the swells, while the latter is found in 
 the intervening depressions. Sometimes there is a layer of gravel beneath a 
 few inches of sandy loam at the surface, a condition which exercises an im- 
 portant influence on the agricultural value of the land. 
 
 Practically the entire surface of the interior plain is occupied by forests and 
 savannahs or prairies. The character of the timber depends on variations in 
 soil. Where the ferruginous gravel is abundant only pines are found. The 
 trees are small, rarely attaining a greater size than 14 or 16 inches in diameter 
 and 16 to 18 feet to the main branches. The best timber is found in the west 
 central portion of the island. In the shallow depressions, where the surface 
 soil is a sandy loam, the pines are largely replaced by.palmettos. The character 
 of the forests is shown by the accompanying photographs. They are generally 
 open and quite free from undergrowth of any kind except grass. There is no 
 sharp line between forest and savannah, and the latter often contain scattered 
 pine trees or groups of palmettos. 
 
 The first suggestion regarding the origin of this plain is that it is due to 
 marine erosion, but a careful examination fails to reveal any of the characteristic 
 marks of wave action. As stated above, the superficial gravel does not owe its 
 rounded form to the action of waves, and no traces of marine deposits are found 
 on the plain. It has undoubtedly been produced by the long-continued action 
 of subaerial forces, which are everywhere tending to degrade the land surface 
 to sea level. Unlike Cuba, the Isle of Pines has maintained a stable position 
 with reference to sea level for a very long time, long enough for the atmos- 
 pheric agencies to reduce highlands of hard schist nearly to base level. It has 
 not recently been elevated to any considerable altitude, for its streams are flow- 
 ing in rock channels — not excavated and alluvial filled channels as would other- 
 wise be the case. 
 
 (3) Approaching the Isle of Pines from the northward the first impression one 
 gains is that its surface is prevailingly mountainous. This is due to the pres- 
 ence of numerous ridges and groups of hills, which rise abruptly from the cen- 
 tral plain. When examined near at hand they are found to occupy a relatively 
 small proportion of the island's surface, being entirely surrounded and isolated 
 by the central plain. They are true monadnocks ; that is, residual masses of 
 resistant rock left in high relief by the wearing down of the less resistant sur- 
 rounding rocks. 
 
 The Sierras de las Casas, los Caballos, and Pequena are three parallel ridges 
 in the northern part of the island, about 2\ or 3 miles apart, and trending nearly 
 due north and south. Nueva Gerona lies about midway between the two first 
 uamed. The highest points in these ridges are between 1,000 and 1,200 feet. 
 
37 
 
 They are composed of marble in massive beds dipping steeply toward the east. 
 This marble formation is estimated to be at least 2,000 feet in thickness, and 
 the three parallel ridges are probably formed by faulted blocks and contain the 
 same beds. The form of these ridges is determined by the structure. They 
 have smooth though steep slopes on the eastern sides, the slopes generally cor- 
 responding with the dip of the marble beds, and extremely rugged, often pre- 
 cipitous, slopes on the western sides where the edges of the beds outcrop. These 
 ridges are almost entirely devoid of soil and sustain only a scanty vegetation, 
 some trees and bushes maintaining a precarious foothold in the crevices of the 
 rocks. 
 
 The Cerro de la Daguilla is an elongated cone about 10 miles south of Santa 
 Fe. It is composed of dark-green hornblende schist, evidently an altered igne- 
 ous rock. It differs completely from the marble monadnocks in the northern 
 part of the island. Its slopes are generally smooth, though very steep, and 
 covered with sufficient soil to sustain a dense growth of bushes and small trees 
 or a thick covering of grass. The Sierras de la Canada, de San Pedro, del Norte, 
 and de la Seiba, judging from their forms, are probably composed of rocks sim- 
 ilar to those in La Daguilla. 
 
 The Cerros de la Siguanea and de las Maneaderos are groups of low hills in 
 the southwestern portion of the island near Siguanea Bay. They are composed 
 of schist similar to that underlying the surrounding central plain, except that 
 it is more siliceous, and hence better able to resist atmospheric degradation. 
 
 Considering the island in its broader relations, it is evident that it has little 
 in common with Cuba. Its geologic structures appear to have no close connec- 
 tion with those of the larger island, in fact, the strike of its structural axes is 
 nearly at right angles with those of Pinar del Rio, the nearest part of Ctiba. 
 No trace of Mesozoic or Tertiary formations, which make up so large a part- of 
 Cuba, was observed on the Isle of Pines, though such formations may possibly 
 occur in the southern portion south of the great cienaga. Further, the island 
 appears to have had an extremely simple geologic history, and to have suffered 
 few of the geologic vicissitudes of its northern neighbor. 
 
 Considered from the economic view point the Isle of Pines is scarcely to be 
 compared with Cuba. Its soil is not adapted for sugar raising, though certain 
 parts are probably as well adapted to tobacco culture as the famous Vuelta 
 Abajo district. Much of the island would doubtless produce fruits, as well as 
 cacao, which latter is one of the most profitable crops grown in the tropics. 
 The industry for which the island appears preeminently fitted is grazing, and 
 it will doubtless in time become an important source of supply for cattle and 
 sheep for the West Indian markets. 
 
 It is also destined to become an important health resort, and all conditions of 
 climate, vegetation, and scenery combine to render it attractive both to invalids 
 and others who wish to escape the severe northern winters. 
 
 The mineral resources so far as at present known are confined to marble, but 
 of this there is an unlimited amount of different grades, suitable for a great 
 variety of purposes. It is possible that iron and manganese may both be dis- 
 covered on the island in commercial quantities. 
 
 Unfortunately the island is without deep harbors, which largely neutralizes 
 its value from a military standpoint. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Page. 
 
 Acosta, village 20 
 
 Administration 32 
 
 Age, population 23 
 
 Agriculture, population 25 
 
 Agricultural resources 25 
 
 Aguacate, fruit 29 
 
 Agustin Pol Bay 12 
 
 Aji, Cerros del 8, 12 
 
 Almacijos, village 20 
 
 American enterprises 31 
 
 Animals : 
 
 Cattle 26 
 
 Fowls 26 
 
 Horses 26 
 
 Pigs 26 
 
 Area 5, 6, 22 
 
 Asiento de Santa Fe 7, 20 
 
 Ayuntamiento under Bejucal 32 
 
 Banana, fruit 29 
 
 Barcos, Point de los 5, 7, 10, 11 
 
 Barcos Bay 16 
 
 Barlovento 11 
 
 Batabano, distances to 5, 7, 10 
 
 Batabano, communications 17 
 
 Bays 12, 15 
 
 Bejucal, in judicial district of 32 
 
 Bernardino, stream 7 
 
 Bibijagua Lake 13 
 
 Bibijagua, Morillo of 13 
 
 Bibijagua, Sierra 10,12,13 
 
 Birds 31 
 
 Birthplace, population 23 
 
 Boundaries,, ' 5 
 
 Brava Point (Punta) 11,25 
 
 Buccaneers 33 
 
 Buena Vista Point , 11 
 
 Caballos, Sierra de la 6, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22 
 
 Cable 18 
 
 Caiman 15 
 
 Caimito, fruit 29 
 
 Caleta Grande, village 20,22 
 
 Caletones Point 12 
 
 Callejon, Kio del 7 
 
 Canada, Sierra del 6,8,9,12,15 
 
 Canada, village 20 
 
 Canao Point 11 
 
 Capitan Estuary 11 
 
 Carapachivey Bay 12 
 
 Carapachivey Cove ! 16 
 
 Carapachivey Harbor 16 
 
 Carapachivey, village 20 
 
 Carboneros 20 
 
 Caribbean Sea 5,7 
 
 Carraguao, Punta de 5 
 
 Casas del Norte, Sierra 12,13 
 
 CasasdelSur, Sierra 12,13 
 
 i Bio, Sierra de „_ 7,10,11,13,16,19 
 
 s, Sierra de la 6, 13, 19 
 
 Cattle raising 9,31 
 
 Caudal, village 20 
 
 Caudal Wharf '10 
 
 Cayamas Kiver 7 
 
 Cayuelo, key 11 
 
 Cedar wood 13 
 
 Cedrella odorata wood 28 
 
 Census : 
 
 Report of 1899 22, 23, 24, 25 
 
 Total Spanish enumeration 22 
 
 Total United States enumeration 22 
 
 By wards i 22 
 
 Bural population 22 
 
 Sex, general 22 
 
 Nativity and color 22 
 
 Age and sex 23 
 
 Birthplace 23 
 
 Citizenship 23 
 
 Males 21 years of age and over 23,24 
 
 Conjugal conditions 24 
 
 School attendance 24 
 
 Occupations, of 24 
 
 Number of families 25 
 
 Dwellings and families 25 
 
 Disposition of excreta 25 
 
 Agriculture 25 
 
 Spanish 5, 22 
 
 United States 5, 22 
 
 Charcoal burning 30 
 
 Chirimoya (cherimoyer) 29 
 
 Cholera 15 
 
 Cienaga, Boca de la 8 
 
 Cienaga Bay 16 
 
 Cienaga (swamp) 6,7,8,9,18,25 
 
 Cienfuegos 7 
 
 Citerna, stream 8, 13 
 
 City properties 19, 32 
 
 Civil government 32 
 
 Clay (brick) 27 
 
 Climate 14, 15 
 
 Coco wood 28 
 
 Cocoanut 29 
 
 Cocodrilo Point and Bay 10,11,12 
 
 Coffee 26 
 
 Coins, value in United States standard 31 
 
 Columbus discovered the island 32 
 
 Color, population 22 
 
 Columpo Lake 13 
 
 Columpo, Sierra 10,12 
 
 Commerce: 
 
 Exports, statistics of 31 
 
 Imports, statistics of 31 
 
 Port of entry 31 
 
 Commercial establishments 30 
 
 (39) 
 
40 
 
 Communications (railroad and steamer), United 
 States railroad terminals from Atlantic and 
 
 Gulf ports 17 
 
 Habana via Batabano to Santa Fe and Nueva 
 
 Gerona 17 
 
 Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and steam- 
 ers from Pensacola and New Orleans 17, 18 
 
 Pennsylvania Kailroad, southern connec- 
 tions, via Tampa or Miami to Habana 17 
 
 Conjugal, population 24 
 
 Coral 15 
 
 Crystals 27 
 
 Cristales, Mount 6 
 
 Crocodiles 15 
 
 Crops 26 
 
 Cuchilla Alta, village 21 
 
 Cultivation, area of 25 
 
 Cultivation, percentage of arable soil 25 
 
 Curazao Point 11 
 
 Daguilla Sierra 6, 9, 12, 13 
 
 Density of population 22 
 
 Dependent islands 25 
 
 Derrotero de las Antillas, quoted 6, 9, 15 
 
 Diablo Bay 12 
 
 Distances, table of: 
 
 From Nueva Gerona to points on the main- 
 land 18 
 
 From Nueva Gerona to Habana via Bata- 
 bano (a selected list of 35 points on the 
 
 mainland) 18 
 
 From Nueva Gerona to points on mainland 
 
 of the United States 18 
 
 Dues 33 
 
 Dwellings, population 25 
 
 Earthquakes 15 
 
 Education, population 24 
 
 Enterprises, American 31 
 
 Entry, port of 31 
 
 Estates 26 
 
 Exports, not separated 31 
 
 Farm areas 25 
 
 Farm (finca) possibilities 26 
 
 Farms, productive capacity 26 
 
 Families, population 25 
 
 Fauna 31 
 
 Figs 29 
 
 Fish , 31 
 
 Fishing 12, 31 
 
 Fish, red snapper and other food varieties 31 
 
 Lobsters 31 
 
 Turtles 31 
 
 Flamencos (los) 10 
 
 Forests : 
 
 Cedrela odorata 28 
 
 Coco i 28 
 
 Fustic (logwood) 28 
 
 Logwood (fustic) 28 
 
 Mahogany 28 
 
 Pine 28 
 
 Palm, royal _ 28 
 
 Forest exports 28 
 
 Forest grants 29 
 
 Forests, inspector of 29 
 
 Forest products 28, 30 
 
 Frances Point or Cape 6, 12, 15 
 
 Frances, Puerto 11, 16 
 
 Freight rates 26 
 
 French Cape (Frances) 9,11,12 
 
 Fruits : 
 
 Aguacate (alligator pear) 29 
 
 Banana 29 
 
 Caimito 29 
 
 Chirimoya (Cherimoya) 29 
 
 Cocoanut 29 
 
 Figs 29 
 
 Granadilla 29 
 
 Guanabana 29 
 
 Guava 30 
 
 Lima 30 
 
 Lime 30 
 
 Mammee-Sapota 30 
 
 Mamoncillo 30 
 
 Mango 30 
 
 Maranon 30 
 
 Oranges 30 
 
 Papaya (paw-paw) 30 
 
 Pineapple 30 
 
 Sapodilla (plum) 30 
 
 Fuera Point 7, 10 
 
 Fustic (logwood) 28 
 
 Goats 31 
 
 Government, civil 32 
 
 Granadilla, fruit 29 
 
 Grande Bay , 12 
 
 Grande, stream 8 
 
 Grande Estuary 8,10 
 
 Grasses 31 
 
 Grazing, statistics of 31 
 
 Guairajes, wood 13 
 
 Guanabana, fruit 29 
 
 Guanal 12 
 
 Guanal Cape 11 
 
 Guanal Point 11 
 
 Guava, fruit 30 
 
 Guayabo River 7,8 
 
 Habana, distance 5 
 
 Habana, communications 17 
 
 Harbors 15 
 
 Heat 14 
 
 Historical events 33 
 
 Hondes, Los 13 
 
 Honey 26 
 
 Horses 31 
 
 Hospital 21 
 
 Hurricanes 14, 15 
 
 Hydrography 9 
 
 Iguana 31 
 
 Imports, not separated 31 
 
 Indian Point 15 
 
 Indian Key 15 
 
 Indios, Rio de los 8,11,12 
 
 Industries: 
 
 Tobacco, manufactures of 30 
 
 Quarrying 30 
 
 Weaving 30 
 
 Lumber, cutting and sawing, poles and ties. 30 
 
 Charcoal burning 30 
 
 Turpentine 30 
 
 Pitch 30 
 
 Tar 30 
 
 Fishing 31 
 
 Pasturing ^l 
 
 Pasturing statistics 31 
 
 Industrial establishments 30 
 
41 
 
 Infierno Bay 12 
 
 Inspector of forests 29 
 
 Iron 28 
 
 Itabo, stream 8 
 
 Jagua, Kio de la 8 
 
 Jamaica, distance 5 
 
 Jardines, cays and islets 7, 9, 17 
 
 Jardinillos, cays and islets 7,9,17 
 
 Jorobado, village • 21 
 
 Jucaro, port 8, 16, 20 
 
 Lacunagua Sierra 12,21 
 
 La Evangelista 32 
 
 Lagetta lintearia, wood 13 
 
 Lakes 12, 13 
 
 Lands 10 
 
 Lands, arable 26 
 
 Language 5,19 
 
 Las Nuevas 7,21 
 
 Lignum-vita?, wood 28 
 
 Lima, fruit 30 
 
 Lime, fruit 30 
 
 Literacy, population 23 
 
 Llevat village 21 
 
 Llimtete Bay 11 
 
 Location 5 
 
 Logwood (fustic) 28 
 
 Louisville and Nashville Bailroad and connec- 
 tions 17 
 
 Lugo Bay 12 
 
 Lugo Point 12 
 
 Lumber, manufactures of 30 
 
 Mahogany, wood 28 
 
 Majagua Point 8,11 
 
 Mai Pais, Sierra 12 
 
 Mai Pais, stream 8 
 
 Mammee-Sapota, fruit 31 
 
 Mamoncillo, fruit 30 
 
 Manati (sea cow) 31 
 
 Manga 26 
 
 Mangles, Islas de 7 
 
 Mangles, wood 10 
 
 Manigua, Sierra 12 
 
 Mangrove swamps 7 
 
 Mangrove trees 10 
 
 Maps: 
 
 Isle of Pines, surrounding waters and main- 
 land faces 5 
 
 Puerto Frances and Siguanea Bay faces 15 
 
 Bailroad and steamer routes from United 
 States, railway tide-water terminal points 
 
 and connections for faces 17 
 
 The Isle of Pines; towns, villages, physical 
 
 features, and roads faces 19 
 
 Maracayero Point 11 
 
 Maranon, fruit 30 
 
 Marble 13,27 
 
 Measures, equivalents of, in United States stand- 
 ards : 
 
 Dry 32 
 
 Liquid i 32 
 
 Linear 32 
 
 Square 32 
 
 Cubic 32 
 
 Medio, Bio del 8 
 
 Miami, distance 5,17 
 
 Military department 5 
 
 Page. 
 Minerals : 
 
 Clay (brick) 27 
 
 Iron 28 
 
 Marble 27 
 
 Salt 28 
 
 Silver 28 
 
 Mineral springs 13 
 
 Chemical analysis of waters 14 
 
 Moisture 14 
 
 Monte, del 8 
 
 Mountains (sierras): 
 
 Aji 12 
 
 Bibijagua 12 
 
 Caballos 12 
 
 Canada 12 
 
 Casas del Norte 12 
 
 Casas del Sur 12 
 
 Columpo 12 
 
 Daguilla 12 
 
 Lacuanagua 12 
 
 Mai Pais 12 
 
 Manigua, La 12 
 
 Monte, del 12 
 
 Pequena 12 
 
 San Jose 12 
 
 San Pedro 12 
 
 Seiba 12 
 
 Mountains (Sierras) 6,9,12 
 
 Muertos creek 13 
 
 Mules 31 
 
 Municipal district 32 
 
 Nativity, population 22 
 
 New Gerona (see Nueva Gerona) 19 
 
 New Orleans, communications 17 
 
 New Orleans, distance 5 
 
 Nicaragua Canal, distance 5 
 
 Northers (la virazon) : 14 
 
 Nueva Gerona (capital) 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19 
 
 Nuevas Los, village 15 
 
 Nuevas, Kio de las 8,13 
 
 Occupations, population 24 
 
 Oil, distilled 28 
 
 Oranges 30 
 
 Palacios Kiver 10 
 
 Palm, royal.!. 28 
 
 Palma Alta 21 
 
 Panama Canal, distance 5 
 
 Passenger rates 17 
 
 Pasture lands 13 
 
 Papaya (paw-paw), fruit 30 
 
 Pedernales Point 11, 12, 16 
 
 Penal colony 19 
 
 Peninsula and Occidental Steamship Company 17 
 
 Pennsylvania Bailroad and connections to Isle 
 
 of Pines 17 
 
 Pensacola, communications 17 
 
 Pensacola, distance 5 
 
 Pequena, Sierra 12, 13 
 
 Physical features 6, 9 
 
 Physiography 35 
 
 Piedra, Punta de, and Cape 7, 10 
 
 Piedra del Indio 10 
 
 Piedras, Cayo de 8, 9, 25 
 
 Pigs 31 
 
 Pinar del Bio, distance 5 
 
 Pineapple, fruit 30 
 
42 
 
 Page. 
 
 Pines, Isle of, geography of 9 
 
 Pines, Isle of 1, 5, 9, 15, 19, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32 
 
 Pines, Isle of, communications 17 
 
 Pines, Isle of, rates 17 
 
 Pine trees 10 
 
 Pino, Esterodel 11,15,16 
 
 Pitch 30 
 
 Plant System 17 
 
 Playa Larga 11 
 
 Political status 32 
 
 Population 5, 19, 22 
 
 Population, rural 22 
 
 Port of entry 31 
 
 Post offices: 
 
 Nueva Gerona 19 
 
 Santa Fe 20 
 
 Potrero Point 8 
 
 Prietos, wood 13 
 
 Products of Agriculture: 
 
 Bananas 26 
 
 Beans . 26 
 
 Boniatos (sweet potatoes) 26 
 
 Chocolate 26 
 
 Cocoanuts 26 
 
 Coffee; 26 
 
 Indian corn (maize) 26 
 
 Lettuce 26 
 
 26 
 
 26 
 
 Plantain 26 
 
 Bice 26 
 
 Sugar 26 
 
 Tobacco 26 
 
 Tuca (cassava) 1 26 
 
 Properties, city 32 
 
 Public lands 33 
 
 Purgatorio Bay 12 
 
 Quarrying 30 
 
 Quitrin 6 
 
 Kace 5 
 
 Bailroad and steamer communications 17 
 
 Bainfall 14 
 
 Bains 14 
 
 Kancheria Point 12 
 
 Kancheria, La, a tongue of land < 11,12 
 
 Bancheria of the East 11 
 
 Bancho Viejo_!. 10 
 
 Bates, railroad: 
 
 From New York 17 
 
 From Philadelphia 17 
 
 From Washington 17 
 
 Beina Amalia 5 
 
 Beptiles 31 
 
 Bhode Island, compai'ison 6 
 
 Bivers 7,9 
 
 Bivers, navigable: 
 
 Casas 13 
 
 Nuevas 13 
 
 Santa Fe 13 
 
 Boads: 
 
 Nueva Gerona to Santa Fe 19 
 
 Punta Brava 19 
 
 Siguanea Bay 19 
 
 Santa Fe to Sierra de los Crystales 19 
 
 Bobles, wood 13 
 
 Bosario, village 21 
 
 Bubber ,. 27 
 
 Salinas Point * 10 
 
 Salt deposits 10, 28 
 
 San Antonio 18,21 
 
 San Francisco de las Piedras 21 
 
 San Juan 8,21 
 
 San Jose, village 15,21 
 
 San Jose, Sierra 7,9,12,15 
 
 San Pedro 21 
 
 San Pedro del Monte, Sierra 12 
 
 San Pedro, stream 8 
 
 Santa Fe 7,20,22 
 
 Santa Fe, communications 17 
 
 Santa Fe, Bio 8,10,13,16 
 
 Santa Bita de la Jagua 21 
 
 Santa Bosalia 7,21 
 
 Santa Teresa 7,15,21 
 
 Santiago, stream 8 
 
 Sapodillo, fruit 30 
 
 Sawmills 28 
 
 Schools 32 
 
 Seasons 13, 14 
 
 Seborucos, causeway 10 
 
 Seboruco Alto Point 11 
 
 Seiba, Sierra de la 8,12 
 
 Sex, population 22, 23 
 
 Shells 15 
 
 Silver 28 
 
 Simon Creek 10 
 
 Sierras 6,9 
 
 Sierra. (See name of.) 
 
 Siguaneita , 11 
 
 Siguanea Bay and anchorage , 8, 11, 13, 15 
 
 Siguanea hill 9 
 
 Siguanea, Bio de la 8,12 
 
 Siguanea Swamp 11 
 
 Soil 15, 25, 26 
 
 Soil, cultivation 26 
 
 Soldado Estuary 11 
 
 Status, political, of the Isle of Pines 32 
 
 Steamer and railroad communications 17 
 
 Streams, list of 7 
 
 Sugar cane 27 
 
 Sugar plantations 26 
 
 Sugar production 26 
 
 Tampa, communications 5, 17 
 
 Tar 30 
 
 Taxes 33 
 
 Telegraph 18 
 
 Temperature • 14, 15 
 
 Timber, area of 13,25 
 
 Tinas, Arroya de las 8 
 
 Tobacco 27 
 
 Tobacco, manufactures of 30 
 
 Tobacco, plantations 26 
 
 Tobacco, products 26 
 
 Topography 9,15 
 
 Towns: 
 
 Jucaro 20 
 
 Nueva Gerona 19, 20 
 
 Santa Fe 20 
 
 Trades 15 
 
 Turpentine 30 
 
 Vegetable products (see Products of agriculture). 26 
 Villages: 
 
 Acosta 20 
 
 Almacijos 20 
 
 Asciento de Santa Fe 20 
 
43 
 
 Villages— Continued. Page. 
 
 Caleta Grande 20 
 
 Canada 20 
 
 Carapachivey 20 
 
 Carboneros 20 
 
 Caudal 20 
 
 ( luchilla Alta 21 
 
 Hospital 21 
 
 Jorobado 21 
 
 Lacunagua 21 
 
 Las Nuevas 21 
 
 Llevat 21 
 
 Palnia Alta 21 
 
 Kosario _1 21 
 
 San Jose 21 
 
 San Juan 21 
 
 .San Pedro 21 
 
 San Antonio 21 
 
 San Francisco de las Piedras 21 
 
 Santa Eita de Jagua 21 
 
 Santa Rosalia 21 
 
 Santa Teresa 21 
 
 .Seiba 21 
 
 "Villages — Continued. Page. 
 
 Sierra de la Caballos 22 
 
 Sierra de Casas 22 
 
 Vigia (La) Point 12 
 
 Waters, chemical analysis of 14,15 
 
 Weaving 30 
 
 Weights, equivalents in United States standards__ 32 
 
 Winds 14 
 
 Woods : 
 
 Cedar 13 
 
 Guairages 13 
 
 Mahogany 13 
 
 Mangles 13 
 
 Palatianes 13 
 
 Pine 13 
 
 Prietos 13 
 
 Robles 13 
 
 Sabicues 13 
 
 Yayas 13 
 
 Yayas, wood 13 
 
 Yellow fever 15 
 
 Yucatan, Mexico, distance 5