Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-04-26
AN AFRICAN PARADISE.
An Island OF Rock Covered with
FlOWers and HAPPY Atricnns.

| EONNhS ~ aeaANA AAi
The Nassau On. P.) correspondent o
the Boston Herald writes TO that pape
as follows: .....
Fright out Of the sea, four hundre,
and fifty miles from the Florida coast
rises a high rock, twenty-five miles lonl
by seven miles wide. 1t is the smalles
of the Bahama Islands ami is calleC
| New Providence. Ii is the second plac,
where Columbus landed on his yoyag,
to the western world and tbe only tow
Of note in the Bahamas marks the spot
Nassau even ut this season nesiles in 4;
wilderness of flowers, plants and fruits
There is not tree, shrub or flower that
thriveS in any warm climate which does
not grow luXuriantly there. said il
was a rock upon which these beauties
grow and blossom, and over which a
never-ending summer breeze blows the
seeds Of health by tcmpering the warmth
of Il tropical sun until it strikes a happy
medium where all season is simmer and
mankind basks in an atmosphere practi-
cally inyariable twelve months In the
year, and trees, shrubs and flowers
thrive in chaotic profusion all the yeal
round, How contrary this is to what is
known Of nature in-the frost land, and
yet how crudcly true of what is seen
here every hour Of the year.
The ocean threw up this mighty rock
"when nature played with hills to show
her curious strength and greatness over
man" Ii is calcareous rock of coral,
soft and pliablc to the mechanics hand,
filled with shells and sand and spit upon
by the ocean until cemented with Us
brine. The surface in places rots, forms
thin soil and in this, and wherever u
crack or crcylce is found, the gayest
flowers bloom. There Is not bit of
fancy in this. Ii is the truth homely
told. 70 describe its inhabitants would
be to parade before you Il mass of color
ed men, women and children, chcaply
but neatly dressed, bareiOotcd and bon
netlcss, but happy and polite. Out Of u
population Of 1900 more than $4,000
are ncgres and unusually intellgent-
Shining out from this darkness Is now
and then native white face, intelligent
and healthy, and ut this season numbers
of foreign faces, which loOl; rs if in
search of health. The houses are as
neat aslhe leople and all Of phcm are
smothcred in flowers and shrubbcry.-
In almost every yard, as well as grow
ing, WDQ, are cQCQqputS, ,QrapIeS, gllayes,.
.solnaHles' hHfns5cAahd ull s6rys OF fruit.
hang, In all stages bud, blossom, half.
grown, Nnd- che nla1lrcd fruit The
drives over the town and through the
island are superb smooth MS floor and
III ,,, al 81, /. ,,itl
tangled sweeping vines, stunt1d trees
iEll hpwelipg AplaptsI irhe olcandcr
towers Us high head among the more
pretcnlious tropical plants, while our
own modest morning glory, so dear to
dSyWslnYBpondS.
purple lips TO he kissed away by the
morning. sun, Ne tongue can tell or
pen write of~thc Beauties. either Of land
or sea, which Vc everywhere Vlslblc. -.
hlS kdsA s5lle al yf,il&e iet,hc as
You approach 1t from the ocean, rising.
iGitdoeSGtomthe wiirr's edge by grad4|
uNl incline to the height Of 200 or 500
ieert tWelyIiootpL the way, Api SllqlGhhgI
the.hoplcpl pbmFy 1lowQfs ai6dihlsst
their best
+ The Ultimate and IsurrmHkM9t are as
near perfection rs one ought 10 expect to
tlnd upon the earth. .-rThe surface of the
island lsrollmg aud What soil there Is Is
very rlcD. The bulk Of vegetation seems
to spring frcm The sVhd rock, und'aclu-
ally does from the cracks and creviccs.
,NherGyer room is found Il. root crccps
inald the lime In tile stone feeds IT,
This lack Of soil aud the necessity Of re-
moving solid stone to aid vegetation pre-
vents much culljvalion Of ihc soil, lind
there Qrpyery few vegetables grown In
n climate especially adapted TO thcirpro-
luctou Fruits are tic principal sta
pies, and upon these Tie natives live to
u very great extent. An tropical yNric-
ties grow In abundance aud arc remark
ably rich aud nutritious. Every yalirty
pf fish Is taken In abundance aud enters
very largely into the doincstltp cconbmy
Of the natives, The chief indurry Of
the natives Is sponge gNtheriug."A