Cuba past and present . nsix feet in diameter and holding 500 gallons, whichin former times were the only reservoirs of thetown. In the old days the tinajones stood in thepatios beneath the roofs to catch the rain waterbut now they are seldom used save as curiositiesor to hold growing palms or plants; but in the dis-trict a heavy drinker is still called a tinajon,— afitting nickname for a human tank. Camaguey looks its age, for even with its mod-ern improvements and its twentieth-century pros-perity it is filled with picturesque nooks and cor-ners, while the projecting windows and grills ofant
Cuba past and present . nsix feet in diameter and holding 500 gallons, whichin former times were the only reservoirs of thetown. In the old days the tinajones stood in thepatios beneath the roofs to catch the rain waterbut now they are seldom used save as curiositiesor to hold growing palms or plants; but in the dis-trict a heavy drinker is still called a tinajon,— afitting nickname for a human tank. Camaguey looks its age, for even with its mod-ern improvements and its twentieth-century pros-perity it is filled with picturesque nooks and cor-ners, while the projecting windows and grills ofantique iron, the heavy stone cornices and red-tiledroofs give it a Moorish, Oriental aspect to be foundin but few cities in Cuba. Camaguey is noted forits numerous ancient churches, among them LaMerced, built in 1628, and one of the churcheswithin which Morgan starved and tortured hisprisoners. The church is now the property ofthe Barefooted Carmelites from Spain and thedaily singing by their choir is an attractive fea-. O < < THROUGH THE INTERIOR 131 ture of the services. The immense walls of thischurch seem built to withstand a siege and in manyplaces are from four to eight feet thick. Thehigh altar is of solid silver constructed from40,000 Spanish dollars while a sepulchre contain-ing an image of Christ is made of beaten silverand weighs over 500 pounds. On Good Fridaythis silver sepulchre is carried through the streetson the shoulders of men who feel highly honouredby the privilege. Besides La Merced there are seven other note-worthy churches in the town, prominent amongwhich is La Soledad, dating back to 1697 andwith interior frescoes which are unique althoughthey were made in 1852. In the suburbs is another fine church, NuestraSenora de la Caridad, or Our Lady of Charity,on the drive to Santa Cruz bridge over theHatibonico River. On this road also is theCasino, while near the Caridad Church is a re-markable well thirty feet in depth and twentyfeet in diameter and he
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidcubapastpres, bookyear1920
