144 CUBA AND POETO RICO 



mountains extending from easl to west, rising to two 

 thousand feel above the sea. Elsewhere tin 1 island is quite 

 flat, consisting of land which represents a coralline plain 

 recently reclaimed Prom the sea. 



Steamers from Batabano run to Santa Fe and Nueva 

 Gterona. The latter place is a very small town at the foot 

 of the hills, with plains of palm-trees in its neighborhood, 

 the town itself being on the Rio de Serra de Casa, some 

 distance from its mouth. Santa Fe, which is the chief 

 place of resort for travelers, is a miserable congregation of 

 houses on the banks of the river of the same name, some 

 distance from its mouth, and also some distance from the 

 steamboat landing. This landing is a rough wooden wharf, 

 from which carriages and stages ply to Santa Fe. In the 

 immediate neighborhood of Santa Fe there are beautiful 

 drives and walks, where the country is more rolling and 

 even hilly. 



The climate of the Isle of Pines is delightful ; the air is 

 pure, dry, and balmy, and the winds coming from the sea, 

 passing over pine forests, are gentle and invigorating. 



The inhabitants of the island are a very simple, kind- 

 hearted set of people, and very fond of a chat with stran- 

 gers, with a natural dignity of manner and courteously 

 hospitable ways. 



For many years a large penal colony has been maintained 

 on the island, consisting mostly of Cuban revolutionists. 



