TORREYA 



October, 1916. 

 Vol. 16 No. 10 



THE ASCENT OF THE TURQUINO, THE HIGHEST 

 MOUNTAIN IN CUBA 



[In ToRREYA for December, 191 5, brief note was made of the 

 ascent of this mountain by a Scandinavian botanist, Dr. E. L. 

 Ekman, with the observation that he was probably the first 

 botanist to reach the top. But the mountain had been cHmbed 

 years ago by an Enghshman who wrote to his mother the account 

 of the expedition printed below. This was given to Dr. Britton 

 by the late Jennings S. Cox, of Santiago, and permission to print 

 it was received from Charles T. Ramsden, Esq., of Guantanamo, 

 a sop of the explorer. The description is printed here as a guide 

 to possible future explorers. At the time of making the ascent 

 Mr. F. W. Ramsden was twenty years old, had been in Cuba only 

 two years, and was employed in Santiago de Cuba. — N. T.] 



Santiago de Cuba, 17th April, i860. 



My dear Mother: On my arriving in Cuba last Wednesday I 

 was very glad to find your letter of 9th ult. waiting me together 

 with a packet of papers. 



In my last I believe I told you that I intended starting on an 

 expedition to the top of the Pico Turquino, the highest mountain 

 in Cuba. Here I am back again safe and sound, and I think it 

 has done me a great deal of good, as I feel very strong and well 

 after it. 



As I have nothing much to say I may as well fill my letter with 

 an account of my trip, tho' I am not sure it will be very interest- 

 ing. 



A few of us here had been talking for some little time back of 

 trying to make the ascent of the mountain, and to find out at 

 [No. 9, Vol. 16 of ToRREYA, Comprising pp. 193-210, was issued 14 Sept., 1916.] 



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