No. 1.] MATTHEW — IMPRESSIONS OF CUBA. 21 



"by the trade winds ; but could still be discerned far off on the 

 distant verue of the horizon in the direction of Jamaica. As 

 soon as the hot sun made its power felt, and the wind drew in 

 again off the sea, a new wreath of cloud began to gather along 

 the side of the mountains, and increase as before. 



After passing Cape Cruz we were driven rapidly along the 

 chain of keys which extends thence nearly to Trinidad, where 

 a spur from the central mountain chain comes down to the coast. 

 The mountains here, though not nearly so high as those at the 

 eastern end of the Island, stand out prominently above the gene- 

 ral level of the land, when seen from the sea. They do not extend 

 to Cienfuegos; but on approaching that harbor, a low ridge may 

 ^3 seen extending apparently without any break for a great dis- 

 tance along the shore. On coming close to the land this appar- 

 ent continuity is interrupted by a slight, inconspicuous indenta- 

 tion, marked by a light-house ; this is the opening into Xagua 

 Bay, upon the north side of which stands the town of Cienfuegos. 

 The passage into the bay is narrow and tortuous, but very deep: 

 at a point about half-way in, where it makes a right angle, a fort 

 has been erected to command the entrance to the harbour. The 

 spot is very wild and picturesque ; and, from its being on the 

 line of an old highway through this part of the Island, it has 

 received the name of Passa-cahaUos (Horse-ferry.) A very 

 strong current runs past it, and the spot is a favourite fishing 

 and bathing resort for the inhabitants of Cienfuegos. Steep 

 ledsres of coral and shell-rag — furnishing shelter and a home to 



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delicate sea-weeds, crustaceans, thorny oysters and other mol- 

 luscs — border both sides of the passage ; and the same rocks 

 stand up in steep, but not very high hills on each side. They 

 are a part of the long, but narrow ridge of limestone, which, for 

 many miles, divides Xagua Bay from the Caribbean Sea. 



Judfiino; from the fossils it contains and the light color of the 

 rock it belongs to the white limestone formation (Post-pliocene) 

 described by Sawkins as covering large areas in Jamaica. It is 

 u barrier reef raised upon the older Miocene beds (seen further 

 inland,) but is now elevated a hundred feet or more above the 

 sea. 



On the outside of the ridge, but near the passage leading into 

 Xagua Bay, are some short sea-beaches, upon which numbers of 

 shells are cast up by the waves, and are much worn by exposure 

 •to the surf. 



