SANTA LUCIA TO AZUCAR 77 



familiar rubber tree cultivated in the north for 

 ornamental purposes. A number of species of 

 small trees related to our hackberry and of the 

 genus Celtis are noticeable features of the flora. 

 One of these, Celtis aculeata, is armed with small 

 hooked spines making it difficult to penetrate 

 their thickets. 



About dark we entered the valley at the base of 

 Azucar (lower than the mine) and following the 

 Malas Aguas River eastward along the base of the 

 sierra we soon reached the tiny little settlement of 

 El Punto. The tienda (store) at El Punto is made 

 glorious only by the good will and intentions of its 

 proprietor. Our arrival created considerable stir 

 among the population who no doubt wondered 

 why three Americanos and the distinguished 

 professor of Havana should turn up at the Pan de 

 Azucar. When they discovered that we were 

 naturalists, the youth of the village started in then 

 and there to collect anything and everything 

 that they thought might interest us. It was night 

 when we arrived quite ready for bed, but we were 

 obliged to remain up for some time to receive the 

 consignments of fireflies, bats, and other objects 

 that the boys brought in. Not until the proprietor 



