Walker, the special artist for Harper's Weekly, who was able to obtain an excellent sketch of the scene. No other newspaper correspondents were in the palace."

A day later Captain-General Macias returned the call of the American commissioners and then the work of drawing up the plans for the Spanish evacuation of the island began. At the end of one week there was perceptible progress and everything was running as smoothly as could be expected. MAKES A CALL. At last the labors were completed and finally the day

CAPTAIN-GENERAL
MACIAS

was fixed for the hoisting of the American flag over San Juan and the complete and permanent occupation of the island by the military forces of the United States.

American men-of-war and American transports by this time had entered the harbor of the capital to take part in the quiet and dignified ceremony. On October 18, at eleven o'clock, the 11th infantry, with two batteries of the 5th artillery, landed. The latter proceeded to Morro castle, which was to be occupied as a fortress, while the infantry lined up on the docks. It was a holiday for San Juan and there were many people on the streets. Rear Admiral Schley and General Gordon, accompanied by their staffs, proceeded to the governor's palace in carriages.

The 11th infantry regiment and band, with troop H of the 6th United States cavalry, then marched through the streets, and formed in the square opposite the palace. At 11:40 A. M. General Brooke, Admiral Schley and General Gordon came out of the palace with many officers and formed on the right side of the square. The street behind the soldiers was thronged with townspeople, who stood waiting in dead silence.

At last the city clock struck the hour of 12, and the crowds, almost breathless, and with eyes fixed upon the flag pole, watched for developments. At the sound of the first gun from Morro,

RAISED IN PUERTO RICO.

Major Dean and Lieutenant Castle, of General AMERICAN FLAG Brooke's staff, hoisted the stars and stripes, while the band played the "Star-Spangled Banner." All heads were bared, and the crowds cheered. Fort Morro, Fort San Cristobal

and the United States revenue cutter Manning, lying in the harbor, fired twenty-one guns each.

Señor Munoz Rivera, who was president of the recent autonomist council of secretaries, and other officials of the late insular government were present at the proceedings.

Congratulations and handshaking among the American officers followed. Ensign King hoisted the stars and stripes on the Intendencia, but all other flags on the various public buildings were hoisted by military officers. Simultaneously with the raising of the flag over the captain-general's palace many others were hoisted in different parts of the city.

PUERTORIQUENANS
HAVE
ASPIRATIONS.

General Guy V. Henry, the military governor of Puerto Rico, took charge of the administration of island affairs without delay, enlisting the people of prominence locally in the duties of government as fully as possible. Welcoming the American influence as heartily as they did, the people looked forward to the time when they should be added definitely to the relations of citizenship. A convention was held in San Juan at the call of General Henry, at which delegates were present from all the important towns of the island. They declared enthusiastically for free trade with the United States, compulsory education and territorial organization, with a view to early statehood for the inhabitants on the same basis as the citizens of the other states of the Union.

Except for a slight feeling of irritation among the people of Puerto Rico at what they considered the unnecessarily prolonged stringency of the military rule, this was the condition of affairs in Puerto Rico from the time peace came until a more definite form of government was under discussion by congress to be enacted for the island.

A COLORED BELLE OF PUERTO RICO

The mixture of African with Spanish blood is not found in all of the people of this island. The higher classes of white people hold themselves as strictly in their own society as in any other country. This attractive colored girl is of the higher type of that race.

CONFECTION VENDERS OF PUERTO RICO

The people of Puerto Rico are as fond of confectionery as our own. It is the habit to buy from street hucksters more frequently than we do, and these in the picture are familiar types. The candies they carry usually are made of chocolate, cocoanut and sugar.

CHAPTER XXIV.

PUERTO RICO, ITS CITIES AND ITS PEOPLE.

Mountain Ranges and Peaks of Puerto Rico-The Island Well Watered by RiversCondition of the Harbors-Perfection of the Climate-Healthfulness of the Island-Land and Sea Breezes-Exemption from Hurricanes-Minerals and Mineral Springs-The Adjacent Islands-Vieques or Crab Island-CulebraMona-Population of Puerto Rico-The City of San Juan and Its Fortifications -Public Buildings and Streets-Ponce, the Southern Port-Other Cities of the Island-The Towns and Villages of the Interior-Characteristics of the People of Puerto Rico.

V

ISITORS from the United States are likely to reach the island of Puerto Rico by way of one of two ports, San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico, the capital, or Ponce, the largest city. By whichever avenue the island is entered, the first glimpse the stranger will have is that of the mountains. The Sierras extend the length of the island from east to west, forming a great backbone ridge, from which rivers flow both north and south into the sea. The ascent from the sea to the mountains is gradual, both on the north and the south until the foothills are reached, when the slopes become more precipitous. All of the ranges are heavily wooded or cultivated, so that the aspect is beautifully green from every point of view. The highest peak in the island is El Yunque or the anvil, variously stated as from 3,600 to 5,100 feet in height. No accurate measurement has been made. It is situated in the northeastern part of the island, not many miles from Cape San Juan, and is visible from the sea at a distance of nearly seventy miles. There are several other peaks of height ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 feet.

The central mountain range, extending from east to west, divides the island into two unequal portions, the larger one to the north. In the eastern half of the island, however, the range divides and incloses a large part of the province of Guayama in a great interior valley. All of the rivers rise in the mountains and flow through deep valleys which