9- 
May 8th:- 
Here we are. Don’t think we look quite as 
bum as represented, but then - ? So herd is the 
cat! I have thought so all along* I hope he will 
use it and that it won’t all be used as chevos* 
Made all the remaining purchases and finally 
got the last thing aboard about 2 P.M. When De la 
Torre gives the Captain his papers, the boat may 
sail* 
He left, that is, Henderson, Clapp, Simpson 
and myself, by rail for Pinar del Rio* 
Passed through a lot of interesting country, 
all flat and suitable for cultivation, covered in 
many places by Royal palms which in places formed 
a dense copse. In eueh locations they are ex- 
ceedingly beautiful, their straight white trunks 
forming a rather open wood, while their spreading 
tops formed a dense mass of green. The Royal 
palms suddenly gave way to 
which, in a way, strongly recall the palmetto of 
Florida, and these in turn were replaced by the 
barrel palm, a curious tree which has a tremend- 
ous swelling at or near the middle of the trunk - 
sometimes two as big as a barrel* 
Noticed many dead animals in the fields and 
busy buzzards about them. It looks as if there 
may have been an epidemic of rinderpest at work 
here* If so, the buzzards will certainly help 
the spreading* Most of the cattle seem scrawny 
and cadaverous - not at all healthy. About 4:30 
the Organ Mountains - "De los Organes" - hove 
in sight and promised to be interesting* We hope 
to be in them manana* They were visited by a 
shower this afternoon, which promises to give good 
collecting* 
We arrived at Pinar del Rio at 7:10, and took 
quarters at the Hotel Ricardo, where we enjoyed an 
exceedingly excellent dinner. 
Havana added one more plague case today. 
May 9th:- 
Slept like a log, although the others com- 
plained of mosquitoes. Up at 6:30, and after 
enjoying a cool shower, started for breakfast. 
We experienced considerable trouble in getting 
breakfast, as most people confine their attention 
to a cup of coffee and a lump of bread, but we 
finally got our fill, piled into the auto, and set 
out for Vinales. 
