Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-16
Che Bermuda Islands-Their Charac
ter and Climate.


So near to the States, it is singular that our
}eople know so little of the Bermuda Islands.
A good account of them is given by CORES
yondent of the Albany Evening Journal, who
Orm to shepherds crook; st. Davids Is
and, at the southeastern extremity, two and
3 half miles in length, forming, with its bold
Head" the knob. st. Georges Island,
.hree and half miles in length, the handle;
Hamilton, or Bermuda Island, sixteen miles
long, the stalk; Somerset, two and half miles
long, the neck; and Boag and lreands Islands,
,ogether two miles long, the point or blade.
A line drawn from the extreme points Of st.
David's Island, through the winding length of
she others, to the extreme point OF lreland's
Island would not exceed thirty miles in length
while one drawn, as the bees flies, from one
end of the Bermudas to the other, would not
equal twenty miles. And yet within this out
er length of twenty miles, and within width
N the widest spot of less than six miles, lie
crowded together more than four hundred sep
arate islands The islands just mentioned, the
principal islands of the Bermuda group, are all
separated by but narrow channels of water
indeed, in two cases are the islands united by
little bridges, scarce twenty feet in length, and
short ferriages connect with these islands the
others. The remaining four hundred and odd
sets are dropped in here and there and every
where, within and between these islands, in the
larbors, in the inlets, and through the chan
lels, anywhere where room can be found
or distinct island iormations-no matter what
he size, so that they DC only separate no
natter what the width of water may be separ-
IL fhoir nh hot ho
,oly deep.
The Bermudians, in speaking OF their numer-
us little islands, say pleasantly, that they have
ne for each day in the year, and spare one tor
sundays and holidays.
The shore lines of the islands are exceeding
. irregular and uneven but everywhere are
aey clear and distinct, and the contrast al
gays sharp between coral edge and clear blue,
n bright green water Hamilton or Bermuda
stands, the largest of the group, Is fair ex-
Gmrle of this irregularity OF outline. At Its
Ridest point it is about two and half miles
3ide but at it's Darrowest not more than one
7ixteenth OF mile, aud its average width, In
is length of sixteen miles, is about one mile.
The surface of the Bermudas is almost as un-
even as is the shore line irregular, but not
nearly so abrupt In Its variations.
Indeed with the singular exception OF st
David's Head, which rises from the sea, bold
2Ud bleak, and wild enough, all OF the innumer-
able surface modulatiOns and variations are
gentle and soft and mild. Are as 1t were, IN
'ull and appropriate keeping with the luxurious
5Ottness of the air and climate; with the uscl-
Gus richness of tropic fruit, and flower and
shade with that something which any one who
has ever breathed in for the few spring months
The air Of Southern CLINE will so well remem-
ber-that something, so voluptuous as to make
the mere act of living delight, aud to render
;ntelhgible the poets meaning, when he spoke
OF the ''ecstacy of lite The islands are all
very hily, presenting constant succession OF
irregular though prettily shaped and well
-Ounded hills, varying in height from twenty
i've to two hundred and fifty feet, and having
no level palns-none even large enough for
level kitchen garden. The general appear
ance OF the land surface is as though 1t had
been moulded by the water, as though huge
raves had thrown up here hill and there
another, as though here the meeting or one
wave Wi h another had changed its course and
thrown up an irregular, counter-runnlng hill;
and IN still another place, number OF wave )
meeting in one high leap, had formed an indie
pendent mound or cone; or rather, IT looks as
though the huge waves that remained after
Storm, when changed wind had altered In
some degree and made irregular their course,
had suddenly, by Almighty Power been still!
od" and made land.
1t is the belief OF many that these numerous
Stands formed once but one, and that IN the
process OF time, the encroachments or the sea
nave made O! one, the many that what is now
land is but the elevated portion OF more ex-
,ensive basis, which is indicated by the innu-
Merable shoals and minor islands.
Certain it is that iho islands are constantly
changing 10 form; that in certain spots nuught
Is now to be seen but the gloriously blue water,
where, within the memory OF man, were fer
tile lands and that in other places is now dry
land where few years ago was water.
Not many years ago, the Bermudas wero
visited for several months, by extraordina rily
high tides which flooded, with each recurring
nr0e,portions of the islands to a depth of many
leet killing the vegetation, groves of trees, &c,