The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-03-04
Ghings abroad.
Winter in the Bsrmudas.

Hamilton, Bermuda, Feb. IA, says A
long, undulating line Of coast drew the
passengers of the steamship Gamma from
their state rooms, and brought them upon
deck before breakfast, on Monday morning
Feb. 7th. This was the first view Of the
Bermndas. The ship left Sandy Hook
astern on Thursday at 2 p. m, and follow
ing almost bee line southeastward, had
two and half days Of such violent rock.
ing as took away both placidity and appe-
tite from all but two or three of her pas
sengers. Saturday night was more en-
durable; the port holes we're open, and
Sunday was day on which everybody
was charmed by the sea. No vessel had
neared us; no living thing showed itself
after the disappearance Of the many snow
white sea gulls that tapped their wings in
our wake for day or two. ~
The route between the Bermudas and
New York City is little traversed. The
Bermudas are further from the West In
dies than from Cape Hatteras, and, there
fore, are relatively to the rest of the world,
distant and solitary, and between New
York and Bermuda there is only one mes
senger, the steamship Gamma, which makes
a departure every Thursday, aud an arri-
val every Monday at either New York or
Bermuda, stopping three days at each port,
At IL o'clock on Sunday night we sight
ed the tall light house on Gibbs Hill, the
one light house Of the Bermudas, which
is from all parts of the group slightly
object. .N.a..
At daybreak the land was in view. The
ocean had little more than ripples on the
surface. We were as near the shore as
the dangerous coral below the wave would
allow, which was for time distance too
far to distinguish anything on the islands;
and by the time we had all steadily as
cended the stairs up which we had often
staggered like drunken folks, our steamer
had rounded the western end, and we saw
before us a stretch of land, not very bro
ken nor yet level, but lovely, especially
with the charm Of the soft spring air that
we looked through 1t was about the
temperature Of a bracing trip to Rockaway
in the middle of the bathing season. Our
horizon Of land included several islands in
its stretch. The larger Bermudas are SO
situated that from aiar they look like one,
and are SO near together that bridges
bring them all within the range Of long
carriage drives. ...
A little red flag like speck on the wa
ters now came floating toward US. Our
sailors let down a rope ladder, and from
long boat rowed by six stalwart Bermu-
dams Of African descent, another man as
black and as stalwart climbed the ladder
and took his place as our pilot. Presently
the undulations Of our welcome horizon of
land became more pronounced, and the
outlines we're lovely indeed. Then, as we
drew nearer, not only the roofs of the cot
tages, but the evergreen cedars were dis
tinct on the hills, and a Bermudan native.
pointed out TO his American wife, Mount
Prospect, conspicuous by its snowy cap Of
military buildings, beyond which lay the
valley in which her husband was born.
An hour later another colored pilot step
ped aboard, and we rounded St. Gather
ines Point, the eastern extremity Of the
group, thus taking in the whole outside
view of the Bermudas as though expressly
on an excursion. Then we swept into the
Great Sound, steered among uneucum-
bered islets into Hamilton harbor, and
were at last landed at o'clock on St.
Valentines day in Hamilton, the lprinci-
pal port of the Bermudas. Within Eve
minutes after our start from the wharf we
were in the principal hotel, fine build.
ing on commanding eminence, overlook
ing on every side beautiful summer land.
scape; the water stretch dotted with islets,
the dwellings on the opposite side Of the
bay, the town Of Hamilton with its cedar
trees and perpetually blooming gardens,
the snow-white roofs of its residences and
public buildings, like sheets spread out to
bleach on the foliage; the groundwork of
green, intersected by streets also white,
and as clean as though they were paved
and swept, the town, like the whole islands,
being built on the soft coral rock, with
only meagre and precious covering Of
soil. There can never be mud, and there
are no sidewalks. st n.ps ,t. ha.l
| Among the verdure along the street side
in Hamilton are blooming the New York
hothouse plants as vigorous shrubs. o'The
life plant refuses TO, be. exterminated, our
old.fashioned live-for.ever in more trop-
ical variety from the difference in climate,
with long, handsome bell blossoms. The
sweet alyssum, the bright santana, and
even the most gorgeous, great scarlet &C.
raniums are everywhere begging to be
plucked. Deep red, pure white and tea
roses in full bloom climb the garden walls,
perfume the piazzas, and in color, delicacy
and luxuriance surpass description, and in
profusion and spontaneity are equalled
only by the hospitable generosity Of the
owners Of the soil. -.s if's
The road from the continent to this se--
questered group is not the thoroughfare to
attract professional rogues The, climate
and productions are thoroughly semitrop.
ical. Vegetables Of the temperate zone,
and the rich everblooming flowers ofsouth-
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