66 



their water from the npiier coni-ses of the Almeiuhires. though this is so 

 highly iiiiprolialih' tluit tlie su.^.uh stiou may lie h'ft out of consideration. 

 Tlie sjirings lieing situated on tlie south side of tlie lower course of tlie 

 Almendares tlie region aci'oss the river— that is the region north of the 

 river— may he excluded as a possible* contriliuting source of the siipply of 

 the Vento Springs. The region about the springs is composed of corral- 

 line rock. In such porous material conditions under which territory on 

 one side of a river may contribute to springs located on the opposite side 

 of a river ai-e impossible. 



The most probable origin of the Vento water supply can best be 

 understood after a general statement of the conditions of the surrounding 

 region. 



The southern slope (-f tlie iiroviiices Guanajai, Havana and Matanzas 

 is largely drained ]>\ uiidcrgrouiKl streams. The streams arising in the 

 hills and mountains, forming tlie Avatei'shed l)(>twcen north and south 

 drainage, run above ground for a distance and then disappear under- 

 ground. The Ariguanabo Kiver thus runs into a. bank at San Antonio de 

 los I'.ahos and disaiiiie.irs among fallen rocks. A few yards away from 

 its "sumidero" tlie water can lie seen running in its underground channel 

 through an opening in the thin roof of the channel. A few yards further 

 on a dry cave leads down lo tlie water, whicli. at the end of tlie dry cave 

 disappears among fallen rocks. Otlier rivers disappear in a similar man- 

 ner. They can not be followed in tlieir underground courses because they 

 completely lill them. Tlie midi rground waters and the ( lianiiels in which 

 they run can, liowevei'. be i-eaclied in places through sink-holes. The 

 streams reaiiiieai". in part, at least, in a number of "ojos de agua." some 

 near tlie coast south of Saii .\iit(Uiio. The region drained liy underground 

 streams is comparatively Hat with frequently no indications of surface 

 streams and their erosion, and extends westward to near San Cristobal, 

 wliere the hrst permanent sui-face stream is observed. At Artimisa and 

 Candalaria stream beds contained pools of water at the time of my visit. 



From San Cristobal to Pinar del Rio there are many small perennial 

 streams. Eastward from San Cristobal the cave region has an unknown 

 extent. Poey limited it to the jurisdiction of (iuanajay, but it certainly 

 extends as far east as the meridian of Matanzas, and from reports prob- 

 alily beyond Cienfuegos. East of Kincon there are. liowever, frequent 

 river beds, all but one of which were dry during the time of our visit. 

 This main ca\e region tielonging to the southern slope sends a tongue 



