Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-02-20
Nassau and its People.


Messrs. Editors - Nassau has four principal
streets running east and west, parallel with the
ocean, streets and places in every direction
sloping northward, with drains out at the sides
extending to the sea; consequently, after heavy
rains, the roads very soon become dry. The
island being strictly of coral formation preparing
to build or cultivate is eveling down. instead of
leveling up The highest point being one hundred
and ninety feet above the ocean, Nassau Is unique
and peculiar Chimneys only grace the cook-room
In the backyard. Each house and garden is
walled in from three to twelve feet high plastered
on the top, If the wall is low, and thickly studded
with broken glass bottles The walls are white
or OF light brick color. A large and handsome
church is but of the rock removed from its foun-
dalton and the surroundings, leaving in the rear
high, solid wall Adjoining is the Queens cause
way, spanned by prettily arched bridge of ma
sonry. Annexed are the government grounds,
quite lawn-ke. One inch of pulverized coral
decayed leaves and sponge clippings mixed is
soil enough for vegetation. The surface is soon
green, covered with small leaf No grass is
grown. The governors house is reached by an as
cent OF fifty-four stone steps, relieved by six land
ings. The corner-posts near the house, are
mounted with two cannon balls; the entrance
within the gateway is guarded by a statue of Co
lunlbus upon high pedestal, quite picturesque
and imposing. The city extends three and fourth
miles along the shore, from Port Charlotte, on the
south. Nassau contains eighty five square miles
Bay street. nearest the Shore is the business mart
and tue buildings are contnuous-others are
mostly detached. During the United States war,
number of fine residences were bnilt-now closed
because the owners are not able to live in them,
nor can Others afford to rent them The bet
dwellings have galleries on three sides from eight
to ten feet wide enclosed by blinds ms the heat Of
summer is intense. Buildings are of wood or
stone, seldom exceeding two stories in height:
some of them are gray with weather and age
Viewed from the Royal Victoria Hotel the mass
appears embowered In foliage. The cocoanut
tree towers above all others, and is everywhere
visible Streets are narrow, roads smooth, and
very pleasant drives Of several miles Oranges
and flowers hang over the walls unmolested.
The colored people-men, women and children
swarm about the municipalities and hotels, offer
ing for sale everything the islands afford, ami
mate and nanimate, from a donkey to a hum
ming bird, and yams four feet long to dill seed
Envy or ill-will is never manifested by the least
A''Nhhs''o NNhhoif hhu pipihhiNN II NHtit
misunderstanding occur. Some of the children
are sharp for trade, and have just what seems TO
be wanted by the customer. 1t is understood that
Americans like curiosites, A boy said, Missus,
want dis dere sandboxes sixpence piece ?'
(hodng up two nuts OF which the natives make
sandboxes) "Well, I'll take one rs you are
anxious to sell" " Nae, Mssus, dat wont do
dis, you see, Is an osta dat be's curace two is
curaosta" They were bought, of course. Last
evening monkey was brought for sale By the
way, lads here will down upon their hands and
walk with their feet at perpendicular height, and
climb the cocoanu tree, eighty feet with straight
smooth body, and cut off its fruit, with only the
feet TO cling by. Darwin may have seen Nassau.)
The negroes very improyident, taking no
thought for the morrow. The order and harmony
which prevails is surprising, until the state prison
Is visited, and the superintendent, a tall large,
courty coloTed gentleman, member of para-
ment appareled in white Marseiles, with chain
OF gold about his neck, explains the state of
affairs after showing three tier Of cells, twelve
feet high and nine by fourteen feet each, white as
snow and ventilated at the top and base, with NO
furniture save hammock, which is given the
prisoners at eight o'clock, +. NJ, when they re-
BATHS The men consider bathing the great
est punishment in prison discipline, Cleanli-
ness we must hayel The chain-gang are the
most wel-to-do looking men seen at work upon
the streets because they live better and are more
regular in habit. The first three months they
have rice and hominy; afterwards, soup is given
out. The clothing is white, Of hemp and cotton,
easy fitting jacket and pants combined, very
Clearly. They work nine hours per day, and to
those accustomed To wear the chain confined
about the waist extending down the front OF legs
and shackled to the ankles 1t Is no Inconvenience
to speak OF, Criminals No. l. carry ball in add-
ton II is understood In the bahamas that law Is
law and no lodging, One thousand dollars will
not avail whit The governor can pardon
under some circumstances The penalty for pick
ing a rose Is three DAYS work here, OF the pay
meut Of one dollar and fifty cents-profanity ten
days intoxcation twenty days, stealing an orange
three months, etc. You might laugh at that mans
crime which keeps him here three years at work
lie entered u negno cabin and took from a string
two dozen bananAs-that was all-work pays
better than stealing and this is the best place for
him. The men grind sugar cane, cut stone, and
sweep the streets-some are gardeners aud clear
the yards df the prison; those wear no chain. The
women are learned 10 cook, wash, sew, and gin
cotton, only one thing each, and when they go
out can provide for themselves. We have Rt
present sixty-one men and nine women Each
island has prison, but all sentenced for more
than three months are sent here II you would
like to try this institution III guarantee the best
we have At twenty five cents per day, and will
not mind throwing In clothes"