The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-10
FIRTH ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
.ur WrNrER TRiTEL TO THE NEAREST
ttND or THE COCOINUT.

7
,,.or, Frankly set Forth by n Resident.
V,.s,r. y. T.. Jan 1G-As the season is
'h,i,ht when Northern cold turns the at
,.,ion of such as are uncomtortably sensitive
,. i.s.r,.~. nr severity 10 the sunny warmth
,roni. lands. let me give them such informa-
,,,ss has come into my possession during n
,.o,e n,osths' res .dcnce in the Bahamas. Al
.,eb no, uuitcwithin the tropics. these islands
so el0s..to thofn and have the separation
t,,, the mainland " Il considerable breadth OF
,.,,ft.e warm flowing Gulf Stream. that they
IDLY uart.kc of q tropical character. and arc
,n.,uallv cut N ftOm the chilling frosts that
AEON sweep down the continent even to tho
.,p,hsrnmost OF the Southern States. You may
,ro,,rse the whole extent of Florida and
hardly meet with u cocoanut tree. and then
only near It's extreme southern point in tho
,eb,hlnrho1d u Key West. But here those
beautiful palms flourish rs II these islands had
over been their home and the foreign nuts had
NOT been planted here. as has really been the
easc. The presence Of these trees In all their
fruit.bcaring perfection Is sufficient evil
den,e Of the absence OF frost. Unlike Florida,
no lee under any circumstances forms here.
It's cold for this ciniatc when Fahrenheit indi-
cot.s i0' Il seldom comes 10 that. As q gem
eral thing during the winter months it is
ALWAYS sunshine with pleasant breeze. Long
continued rains sct In even in winter. which is
deemed o dry sonson. and an almost uniuter-
ruptod rain during day and night may tire
The Northern visitor. who may wish him
SELF back even in his own hard frozen
North. Last winter il rained much Of the
time throughout the season. and during
nearly the whole month Of January there was
an iur,ssaut pouring Of rain Ii was said 10y
the oldest inhabitants that such a thing had
never before been known; but for all that. SINH
lar winter rains have happened before and.
inloed are not So very uncommon. On tho
other hand when the sun is out and the cool
and brarinE wind aninatcs and cxhiaratcs.
The days are rs enjoyable as you cogld wish:
and r. for the nights. rain or not. it IL seldom
tia, they do not of1er the sweetest sleep. Rarely
night Of warm calm intcrvcncs and tcmpts
tho slumbercr to throw on tho blanket under
which one habituaiN sleeps with comfort. pro-
vded mosquitoes. sand flies. and neas be not at
hand 90 disturb aud torment: for let It be un-
derstood that the Bahama Islands abound with
thesc pests. with rare exceptions. Strangely
enough. there IRE few islands singularly
free from both mosquitoes and sand flies or
"nppers." as they are here called. But both
w.uier AMI summer they trouble nearly all the
Islands. and Nassau is not free from them.
The lasting rains. although liable 20 occur
NJ any time, are not OF frequent occurrence:
but enduring sunshine and starry or moon
light nights seem to be the rlle. with refresh
INK northeast winds prevailing in the winter
nui a less cooling. perhaps even enervating.
southeast wind In the summer. Even from tho
northwest It sometimes blows in the winter for
n day or two. This is ut the same time
the most agreeable. tonic. strengthening.
AMI auimating OF all the winds. for 1t is dry and
cold without chill Striking into Florida. the
same wind frequently blasts its struggling
tropic yerdure. forms lee au inch thick in YES
sels exposed 10 It's influence. and penetrates the
human frame to the very marrow OF the
bones. Here II Is simply agreeable and well
coW" and no fire is necessary to keep warm.
although good warm clothing il esirable The
sens sons follow closely IN" annual changes in the
United states. with this important difference
inc neat oi summer is not 50 great. and the
day in the past summer did the mercury
Each 30 and only on two other occasions So.
Inc neat, however, II peculiar. IL ludu eos
voplous nerspirnton' ana L.. Z" som" "Ni"nt.
debiltHtiug; but u can hardly lee. said to lee OPP
Neither do these periods OF heut last long: "a
week is about their extent. and then rrSuli~ n
Delicious cooling respite ot several weeks
DURATION. Inc summer sets ~ talrlN ~ the
mouth OF June. southeast winds prevail. and
GOout the middle OF September announces the
approach Of autumn coulness hy some refresh
ing and welcome northrasters. Harder and
harder il begins TO blow from the broad Allan
uc. mostly from the northeast. sometimes
direct and cold from tue north. Then gale
follows gale the ocean pcrprtually raging. and
IN comes. stormy and THREATENING. the, truly
h.rricane month. October ALWAYS full OF rain.
an sometimes fuil OF dire disaster. Already.
h'iure tue beginning OF November. fenr OF hur
flrhnts is no longer felt ami from then until the
following June all apprehension is at an md.
The people Of the Banana Islands, ike the
r"st " mankind, ARE afflicted with all sorts OF
toublee and diseases. Typhoid, scarlet. and
Intermittent irNers, coughs, colds, cOnsump-
ton. rheumatism. dyspepsia, and whooping-
cough prevalent, and even fatal at this
very time with almost every child Affected
aud many Other disorders. including some
,.as"s Of leprosyi are is hat are iei5 all over
NAY b" cons drrcd as eminently healthy. Com
pared 70 Florida. their healthfnlness Is un-
"nni ON every hand. Here. because there Is
- l't' marshy land, the dreadful swamp
.eyrr j. rare and mild. Nor is y"low, fever
frequent Vsitant Persons from the North
coming here with consumption, not too lar
eon". fni relief and cure; and even rheu;;
may boz dls-ipnted and the sufferers obtain
permanent restoration in the generous and
tNeA temperature 81 winter
MEANS or COMMUNICATIONS.
ltcannoi I've said that the facilities for reach
M iu HtluWt l. auds are very good. Sailing
vessels Wy between them and all the Atlantic
h HuN -enp'ris during the fruit seasons
WI dr' twice year, namely, ~ sprins ana
e'rl summer from April tin July for the
Cl'"ltl'" pi pn"appi"s. gnd in ne autumn.
"'tt .t- - L.fIff ana cIrf \ I'VE luD'T, lNI lllo
h..pm"ut of oranges. Frequent trips through
.' lh' year are made 10 the southern sea-
f'-.
!he vessels employed in this scryice are not
lNit", pti staneh and scaworthy, often fast
tI".-. owned aud manned for the most
300 10y intelligent and capable natives OF
" HNNnps. lio who wishes To- reach these
i-thir 100 safety would do we'll TO embark
lA -N.N vessels. They are not o; course fitted
W ~ ~-"nerf-, with the Eiit ana polish 81 a
p "a. -I.t Whose very nnerY IT. only a S"aSlrk
li'A"N' -ill some OF them oil,'r pretty good
'.'HlailNne, certainly only TOR a lew and
unless me weather be very untavornhle. with
.'..- ArI h-ud winds 10 tax the patience Of
I.-' Passengers. the voyage is not 81 very ais
'.H and WITH "a good, lair steady breeze
j .7 h'-u.N ENJOYABLE. The motion Of sailing
N'~-''., especially OF small rize. is far more
.'.' ?" induce sons Ickness. Sometimes the
h '- u'al" lu SIX dSSs. sometimes in twelve or
'N. ma rnr"iy longer Frequently the
'-' l- made 100 almost ~ short time rs by
'"'. hul l'r that matter. going To- the BAHIA
ne r u"A,iN or recreation why Dee in ilurryf
'" .hI' G ou llo the better. unless the sea.
th"-, Zee very distressing. BY sailing vesse
M - Expensive than b. steamer. and
'-" -'hoon"r-. making frequent passages,
.h meet with any serious dls1sterr; hut
'' l~'ip line has n hud record. Within
!. i-| 'ir'" or four years no less than three
'.'.N have been burnt on no nigh seas,
'~''''ia~ 900 iWY u''a7 obs painful loss OF ne.
TTf- rufprFAT pprTTg