260 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



country along the river is exceedingly beautiful. 

 Although the soil is of the sandstone type it must 

 contain some admixture of the limestone clays, for 

 the vegetation is superb and of the rich soil kind. 

 Splendid clumps of bamboos wave their feathery 

 plumes over the river, and fine large trees of dark 

 heavy foliage adorn the landscape. Groves of 

 the finest royal palms yet observed, even rivaling 

 those of the Yumuri, add their own peculiar charm 

 to the scene. Flowering shrubs of many kinds, 

 now in full bloom, scattered dashes of bright red 

 and yellow or pink over the earth. We asked our- 

 selves, why is not this splendid country settled 

 and cultivated ? With the exception of the tienda 

 and one other house later discovered — the house 

 of our young Lochinvar — there was not a habita- 

 tion within miles. Lack of communication alone 

 can account for it. Some day when the railroad 

 will be extended from Guanajay, through Bahia 

 Honda to Esperanza, traversing this lovely coun- 

 try, it will become another of Cuba's garden spots 

 — like Vifiales, the Yumuri, and Mayari in the east. 

 In the river we captured some crustaceans and 

 melanians and about its banks a few insects, a 

 snake, some lizards, and butterflies. We had not 



