The History of Cuba, vol. 1

, which were reserved for a few years later, it will be profitable to pause for a brief space, to review what science has revealed to us of not merely the pre-Columbian but indeed what we may term

in rocks rich with the gold which they coveted. That was all. It remained for the ampler knowledge and the more patient and painstaking research of later years to analyze the structure of the island, to discern the causes and the processes through which it had been developed into its present beautifu

scertained; and the topography of the land as it has been revealed through a f

ere formations of different geological ages are lithologically so similar as to be often indistinguishable, the only method of differentiating t

attempt to indicate the times at which the various levels were developed, or to designate the periods during which they rema

do know that the oldest igneous rocks were themselves folded, faulted and subjected to other processes of metamorphism, and that subsequent to the changes to which they were subjected, the entire region was uplifted and deeply eroded before the cretaceous sedimentation

relief, so that the land was a featureless plain when the cretaceous subsidence began. The time interval required for

anular rocks which appear on the surface because of this erosion, were originally formed deep within the crus

ntilles, to the northeastern coast of South America. The data presented would seem to indicate that at least the eastern half of Cuba stood high above the lev

ited. The lowest cretaceous rocks yet found are composed of an arkose, derived in large part from the original igneous mass. The main body of the strata is compo

ara province occur in the bottoms of synclines, and the projected dips appear sufficiently to carry the beds over the tops of the di

Oriente, where Eocene fossils have been collected. During, and possibly previous to that period, volcanic agencies were active in Oriente, since volcanic rocks are found interbedded with sediments of

r the above town. Radiolarian oozes are at present being formed on the sea bottom at depths of between 2,000 and 4,000 fathoms. This, of course, does not prove that the deposits of Baracoa were laid down at so g

building in Oriente had begun before the deposition of upper Oligocene strata, and the Sierra Maestra had already been elevated to a considerable height above the sea. It is probable that the sea at

ng the axial line being greater than at the sides. It is probable that the folding of the Oligocene strata noted in the vicinity of Havana and Matanzas took place during this time. It may be inferred that the central

goes to show that these are wave-cut terraces. It may be added here that all of the elevated Pleistocene coral reefs recorded are plastered on the surface of the upper Oligocene formations, or i

a level. If these are true Pliocene, it would indicate a subsidence during that time of from ISO to 180 feet. The character of the fauna foun

ene times, at which time the Isle of Pines and Cuba were connected. One reason for the belief in this elevation is the existence of an old, deep and comparatively narrow cut in the

0 feet or more above sea level. Subsequent to this elevation, there was a subsidence varying from 40 to 70 feet. There were doubtless other slight oscillations during the Pleistocene

tion between Cuba and North America at any time since the beginning of the Tertiary, unless perhaps dur

earch, but for a far more extended study and survey of its many im

together with the greater part of its coast line, where the highest mountains of the island are found. The second includes the greater part of the province of Camaguey, made up of gently rolling pla

stern portion of this province together with all of Matanzas and Havana. The surface of this middle section is la

everal more or less parallel ranges of sierras, with mean altitudes ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 feet, leaving the southe

eastern ranges of the United States. The mountainous area of this province is greater than that of the combined mountain areas of all other parts of

of fairly uniform altitude, with the exception of a break in the vicinity of Santiago where the wide basin of Santiago Bay cuts across the main trend o

range, the mountains rise abruptly from the depths of the Caribbean Sea, but near the City of Santiago, and to the eastward, they are separated from the ocean by a narrow coa

nus of Cuba. To the west they rise abruptly from the ocean bed, but further east they are bordered by terraced foothills. Towards the north they contin

amphitheatre which drains into Guantanamo Bay. Much of this section, when raised from the sea, was probably

ese extend east and west, but are separated into several distinct masses by the Rio Sagua, and the Rio Mayari, which break through and empty into harbo

n of centuries from a high plateau, the summits of which are found in "El Yunque" near Baracoa, and other flat topped mountains within t

ude of 2,800 or 3,000 feet. The 2,000 foot plateau of the Sierra Nipe alone includes an area estimated at not less than 40 square miles. It would seem that these elevated platea

valleys. Between these divergent ranges lies the broad undulating plain of the famous Cauto Valley, which increases in width as it extends westward. The northern half of this valley merges into the plains of Camaguey, whose surface has been disturbed by vo

ately northeast and southwest lines, passes through the cities of Sancti Spiritus and Santa Clara. Four groups are found here, one of which li

eet. A third group lies southeast of the city of Santa Clara, and includes the Sierra del Escambray and the Alta de Agabam

gua la Grande, and extending into the province of Camaguey. The trend of th

northern line reach an altitude of only a thousand feet. The principal members are known as the Sierra Morena, west of Sagua la Grande, L

in a little west of Guardiana Bay, with a chain of "magotes" known as the "Pena Blanca," composed of tertiary limestone. These are the result of a se

he others are of slate, sandstones and schists. The term "magote," in Cuba, is applied to one of the most interesting and strikingly beautiful mountain formations in the world. Th

o a height of 1,000 feet or more above the level grass plains that form their base. Meanwhile the continual seepage of water formed great caverns within, that sooner or later caved in and fell, hastening thus the gradual leveling to which all mountains are doomed

the "magotes," since not only is it surrounded by their precipitous walls, but several of them, detached from the main ch

e were all of us traveled men who viewed this panorama, but all agreed that never before had we gazed on so charming a sight. There are recesses among the Rocky Mountains of Canada into which one gazes with awe and bated breath, where the very silence oppresses, and the beholder instinctively reaches out for

of an elevated plain that at some time in the geological life of the island was raised above the surface 1,500, perhaps 2,000, feet.

ion than the lomas. They are known as the Sierras de los Organos, although having many local names at different points. Water and atmospheric agencies have carved them into most fantastic shapes,

Pinar del Rio is called Guajaibon, which rises to an altitude of 3,000 feet, with its base but very little ab

l with many breaks extends the great southern chain of the Organos with its various groups of "magotes," reaching eastward throughout the entire province. At its extreme

of the city of Pinar del Rio, are ranges of round topped lomas, composed largely of sandstone, slate and shal

lendid forests of hard woods, that reach up into the Organos some ten miles back from the coast. Along the southern edge of the Organos, fr

zas, where another short coastal range appears, just west of the valley of the Yumuri. This, as before stated, has its continuation in det

Cristo in Oriente. In Pinar del Rio it forms a piedmont plain that entirely surrounds the mountain range. On the south this plain has a maximum width of about 25 miles and ascends gradually from the sho

e places reaches a height of 200 feet as a rule deeply dissected, so that in p

greater part of the provinces of Havana and Matanzas and the western half of Santa Clara. The divide as a whole is

wing north have lowered their channels as the land rose, and the surface drained by them has become deeply dissected, while th

re found among the various mountain groups in the eastern half of Santa Clara province, beyond which it extends over the greater part of Camaguey and into Oriente

t at El Cristo. In the central section of Oriente, the Cauto River and its tributaries have cut channels into this plain from 50 to 200 feet in depth. In the lower part of the valley these ch

g surface streams. The rain water sinks into the ground as soon as it falls, and after flowing long distances under ground, emerges into bold springs, such as those of the Almendares that burst out of the river bank some eight miles south of the City

tile. Certain portions of the plains, especially those bordering on the southern side of the mountains of Pinar del Rio, are covered with a layer of sand and gravel, washed down from the adjoining highlands, and are, as a rule, inferior in fer

rature of winter and that of summer is only twelve degrees, or from 76 degrees to 88 degrees. Even between the coldest days of winter, when the mercury once went as low as 58 degrees, and the extreme limit of summer, registered as 92 degree

ht angles to the general direction of the wind, plays a very important part in the equability of Cuba's climate. Then again, the island is comp

ter may drop to 60 after sundown, are the advance waves of "Northers" that sweep down from the Dakotas, across Oklahoma and the great plains of Tex

so because Cuban residences are largely of stone, brick or reinforced concrete, with either tile or marble floors, and have no provision whatever against cold. And, although the walls are heavy, the windows, doors and openings are many times larger than those of residences in

he middle of May until the end of October, and serve to purify and temper the heat of summer. On the other hand, the cooler months of winter are quite dry, and absolutely free

month, and according to the testimony of physicians nothing is better than sunshine to eliminate the germs of contagious