Note 1 — PART TWO I.—LA NATURALEZA EN LA AMÉRICA LATINA (continued 2)
Reading edition
nublado los cielos ... en humo convertidos, the skies darkened ... converted into smoke. Note reversion of regular order. This refers to the fact that during the last war with Spain the Cubans set fire to immense areas of cane, together with the adjacent ranches and villages, to prevent their serving as cover and sustenance for the enemy.