128 CUBA AND I'ORTO RICO 



deck nothing is visible but the straighl const -lino of high 

 mountains, presenting apparently an impenetrable front ; 

 but on closer approach a narrow rent is seen, only one hun- 

 dred and eighty feet in width, but of good depth. Once 

 within the harbor to which this passage gives entrance, 

 one is well disposed to join in the chorus of praise which 

 has been awarded to it by sailors and others who describe 

 it as one of the finest in the world; and certainly it has 

 many admirable points which one realizes only from the 

 inside. 



The first Spanish colonizer of Cuba, Velasquez, was not 

 slow to seize upon the great natural advantages which the 

 harbor presented, and two years after establishing the first 

 capital at Baracoa he removed the seat of government, in 

 1514, to Santiago ; hence the place may justly claim to be 

 one of the oldest cities in America, dating from the days 

 of Columbus. The narrow entrance to the harbor presents 

 several pretty objects. On the east point is Morro Cas- 

 tle, which was built by the old Spanish warrior Pedro de 

 la Rocca about the year 1640. Looking at it, one would 

 scarcely believe it possessed much defensive effectiveness 

 when pitted against modern men-of-war. From the point 

 of view of the artist, however, it is perfect. A flight of 

 well-worn steps winds from the water's edge up the side of 

 the grim old brown-and-yellow walls, all covered with moss 

 and ivy, to the solid battlements on top, while the moat, 

 drawbridge, and other surroundings make up a charming 

 picture, suggestive of the days of gallant knights and im- 

 prisoned maidens. A little farther in, at the left, is the 

 castle known as La Socapa, which is also very picturesque. 

 On the same side as Morro is a small star-shaped fortifi- 

 cation known as La Estrella. Still farther in small islands 

 appear, on one of which, at the left, is built the hamlet of 

 Cayo Smith. The latter is the watering-place of the best 

 families of Santiago, and has many beautiful villas. There 

 is another island at the beginning of the bay, where the 

 magazines are located. The narrow neck of the bay, toward 



