New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-17
TROPICAL CORRESPONDENCE
NASSAU.
MID-wINTER IN THE BAHAMAS.


last of December in search Of SUMMER cline and
more indugent skies our fifth day at sea brought us
10 what seemed in truth a heaven and a new
earth Anchorng for few minutes just in sight of
our Promised Land the good ship Eagle left us TO
pursue further way in the prettcst yacht imagin-
able Sailing eisurely up the winding. shallow chan
mel. still bright with many submerged sun, 1t APP
peared as il we were gliding along in pleasant
dream that going to end On either side the
land uxurant with verdure; the wild cactus the
palm. and the cocoa marking its tropical character
Two square heaps Of coal this solitary shore
attracted my attention, and inquiry proved them to have
been sold 10 the Confcdcraes during the war; but for
reason removed. The thiekly nterlacng vines
OF mOrning-gory been partially successful In orna-
mentng the black with their delicate traceTyi
whereat felowpassenger remarked rather sentiment
ally that nature the Of the dead Confeder
acy with flowers to hide its hideousness, which little
speech less poetic bystander paraphrased, compla-
Gently, to show it 5 gone To grass"
Nearer yet TO the harbOr passed the famous Lillian
and the San Salvador those unucky Cuban privateers
now held in durauce vile by the British powers that be-
Spanish man-ofwar keeps guard over the deserted
vessels having arrived. with characteristic sowness,
time after the seizure The British lion has the
tendereSt conscience I'm the world regards any VIOLA
ton Of the Neutrality laws when any but Uncle Sans
rebels are concerned The Nassau people, am told,
have lost all they made during the The hurricanes
carried away all their ungodly gans-and served them
rightly, too said British Official know not how
sincerely
But to return yacht Arrived at the wharf. 1t
was boarded by the chef officer OF the House-a
coored man. emnenty respected and respectable, with
the manners Of Chesterfield and accent that Lord
Dundreary might have owned. He educated in En-
gland, told. and has since Travelled nearly every
where. The colo ed people here seem to have very
good chance In respects There next TO no pre-
udice against Them The policemen all colored men,
no p1f ami
earn good livIncs, II they choose TO work and, If
they do not, why they live on sugarcane,
and be Idle crown princes. Candor
Compels 90 state that they generally choose
the latter alternatives consequently there is very little
done in the way Of agriculture. Some Of the blacks do
moderate trade in sponges, which they gather by de-
tachng with long hooked pole from tho coral bed of
the sea. They dive for conch pearls which said
10 be very pretty bat not obtained in sufficient guam
titles for commerce l told that they have rosy,
opaesccnt lustcr The most exquisite shelwork ever
done here Some OF ii was sent TO the Great Ex-
position and houorably mentioned in its report Flower
crosses baskets vases. butterflies brooches bracelets,
all kinds OF ornaments made Of shells, and are OK
tremely beautiful.
one Of The most charming features OF Nassau Is Its
beach, which extends for miles, and is covered with all
sorts OF I'm the shape OF pretty Shells stardsh
sea eggs "a creature that looks like animated chestnut
burr and has an uumstakabe Of saying touch Inc
not" by darling some OF his sharp prckles into ones
fesh), scafaus branching coral, and little sponges
washed ashore by the tide The appears here in its
ceutlest most clressug mood. No foamng pillows, no
sghug Of the salt sea waves moaning grOaning
in TACT, Of the usual melancholy aspects of old
ocean Verdaut little pennsuas, running ont here and
there give pleasant variety to the coast The harbor,
with its little nugsmacks its weatherworn salships,
sghtholse and old. ruined fort is picturesque enough
Tor Venice.
Speaking Of forts, there most curious on an
emincnce commanding the island. II is built very much
IN the form Of sidewhee steamer, which is singular
enough. nasmuch 1t is nearly hundred years old
local tradition places the spot from which the Brit
ish took the island, OF which the following
version Is gven handful Of English feebooters landed
In the night planted couple OF this peak IN
such manner a. command the house of the Spanish
Governor and when that hdalgo awoke next morning,
surrender at discretion TO the Adventures who
had so adroItly placed him at their mercy.
Some Of the plants here very curious variety OF
sempeT rnes very common the island. will, II taken
from its native soil and suspended in the air without
particle Of earth live for years, new plants growing out
OF the crcnatcd Of the original leaves The effect
is very curious, and be obtained with even single
leaf pinned 10 the wall Of Your room.
The climate is marvelously fine. The thermometer.
am told will scarcely vary four degrees in as many
months The ar Is balmy without being enervating.
There positive enjoyment in breathing It, 1t has fire.
ouently wrought almost Incredible in lung difficult
There not few people living here now, IN ap-
pnreutlV perfect hean, VINO came mere WIFI
sumption will give a few OF many instances Of benefit
derived from this climate:
physician from Philadelphia came here about ten
years ago. having lost the Of lung completely and
being expected TO live but short time. He did not gain
very much the first year; but the second made him
well man. as saw him to day.
Another instance: a young man with one lung de-
stroyed there in almost dying condition
In a few weeks he riding horseback, and by Summer
time was well enough TO return TO business That oc-
CURED only last year.
Several cOuslmptves, who came this last Fall are gain
ing rapidly and expect to keep up the reputation Of the
place by returning good health next June Ipresume
many more will time to avoid severe North
ern Spring.
The hotel the finest structure or the island 1t
was built by the Government not very long since 1t lie
now exceedingly well kept and would compare not dis
adyantageousy with the best New-York hotels. The
opportunities for boating sporting, and driving are
excellent The roads, formed Of the native rocky bed OF
the island are good concrete Altogether these
are charming Winter quarters, where, instead OF hail
and snow, and stormy blast,
Blossoms and fruits and flowers together rise;
Aud the whole year in gay confusion lies" Lilo.
MEXICO.