AZUCAR TO THE COAST in 



would be an almost certain result, had an overlying 

 strata of limestone existed. This is, of course, 

 negative evidence, but nevertheless carries weight. 



An objection (also negative) to the hypothesis 

 of overlying, and therefore more recent, sandstone, 

 is in failure to find any examples of strata in situ 

 showing such relative positions. Surely, it might 

 be urged, somewhere in this area of denuded sand- 

 stones there must remain some trace of an under- 

 lying limestone. 



In all other parts of Cuba, limestone, wherever 

 occurring, is clearly superimposed upon all other 

 rocks and not infrequently only caps the highest 

 hills. Thus we were inclined to view the situation 

 in Pinar del Rio with an a priori theory that the sierra 

 limestone must be more recent than the heavy 

 flanking of sandstones and shales. Until a careful 

 recognizance by some trained geologist is made, no 

 positive conclusions need be accepted as to the rela- 

 tive ages of the two systems, but in the light of pres- 

 ent observation it seems certain that the Organ 

 mountain limestone underlies the sandstone and 

 that its present dominance above the other along 

 a central axis is due first to folding and then to the 

 more rapid weathering of the softer sandstone. 



