pressing the under lip against the upper teeth.  On the contrary the mouth is opened wide, ha, he, hi, ho, hu.  I know that the Jews and the Arabs pronounce their aspirates in the same way, and the Spaniards do likewise with words they have taken from the Arabs who were for a long time their masters.  These words are sufficiently numerous; almohada = a pillow; almohaza = a horse-comb, and other similar words, which are pronounced by holding the breath.  I insist upon this point because it often happens among the Latins that an aspirate changes the significance of a word; thus hora means a division of the day, ora which is the plural of os, the mouth, and ora meaning region, as in the phrase Trojae qui primus ab oris.  The sense changes according to the accent:  occ[=i]do and occ[)i]do.  It is consequently necessary to heed the accents and not neglect the aspirate in speaking the language of these simple people.  I have spoken above about the accent and the article gua.

[Note:  [=i] is a long ‘i’, and [)i] is a short ’i’.]

The cantons of the province of Hubabo are Xamana, Canabaco, Cubao, and others whose names I do not know.  The cantons of Magua and Cacacubana belong to the province of Cahibo.  The natives in this province speak an entirely different language from that spoken by the other islanders; they are called Macoryzes.  In the canton of Cubana another language resembling none of the others is spoken; it is likewise used in the canton of Baiohaigua.  The other cantons of Cahibo are Dahaboon, Cybaho, Manabaho, Cotoy, the last being situated in the centre of the island and traversed by the Nizaus River, and finally the mountains Mahaitin, Hazua, and Neibaymao.

Bainoa, the fourth province has the following dependent cantons:  Maguana, Iagohaiucho, Bauruco, Dabaigua, and Attibuni which takes this name from the river; Caunoa, Buiaz, Dahibonici, Maiaguarite, Atiec, Maccazina, Guahabba, Anninici, Marien, Guarricco, Amaquei, Xaragua, Yaguana, Azzuei, Iacchi, Honorucco, Diaguo, Camaie, Neibaimao.  In the last province, Guaccaiarima, lie the cantons of Navicarao, Guabaqua, Taquenazabo, Nimaca, Little Bainoa, Cahaymi, Ianaizi, Manabaxao, Zavana, Habacoa, and Ayqueroa.

Let us now give some particulars concerning the cantons themselves:  the first gulf[5] found in the province of Caizcimu cuts into a rock where it has worn an immense cave situated at the foot of a lofty mountain about two stadia from the sea.  Its vast arched entrance resembles the gates of a great temple.  In obedience to an order from the government, Morales tried to enter this cavern with the ships.  Several streams come together there through unknown channels, as in a drain.  It used to be a mystery what became of a number of rivers ninety miles long, which suddenly disappeared under the earth never to be seen again.  It is thought they are in some fashion swallowed up