124 CUBA AND PORTO BIOO 



feet, and at the wharves from fourteen to sixteen feet. A 

 circular railway Leading fco a wharf and large warehouses 

 facilitates the loading and unloading of vessels. Many 

 local steamers leave the town for Batabano, Trinidad, San- 



t iago, and the Isle of Pines. The many ships at anchorage 

 alongside the wharves, and the picturesque background of 

 hills, are imposing sights. 



This little city, which is the metropolis of central Cuba, 

 is a model of its kind, has a population of 23,517, and 

 is the center of the sugar-trade of the south side of the 

 island. The streets are regularly laid out ; the houses are 

 well built ; and there are beautiful shade-trees and plazas, 

 one of which is the largest in Cuba. There is a handsome 

 main avenue, at the end of which are fine statues to Gen- 

 eral Serrano, a former governor of the island, and to 

 General Clouet, a founder of the town of Cienfuegos, who 

 was an emigre from Louisiana. 



Cienfuegos is lighted by gas and electricity, has abun- 

 dant water-supply, excellent clubs, and a theater. It has 

 also an imposing governor's house, military and govern- 

 ment hospitals, market-place, and railway-station. 



Some of the largest and finest sugar-estates in the world 

 are situated near this city, including the Soledad and others. 

 Probably no place on the island offers greater advantages 

 for seeing sugar-making in its most favorable aspects. 



The climate of Cienfuegos from December 1 until May is 

 dry and moderately warm, the temperature ranging from 

 60 to 78 during the day, and falling several degrees at 

 night. At this season almost constant winds prevail from 

 the northeast or northwest, accompanied by clouds of dust. 

 For the rest of the year the temperature ranges from 75 

 to 93, descending a few degrees at night. 



Trinidad, to the east of Cienfuegos, dates from the first 

 years of the conquest. The town was settled by Diego 

 Velasquez in 1513, and, like Baracoa and Santiago, repre- 

 sents one of the earliest fortified cities of the New World. 

 The town and harbor were the scene of many desperate 



