Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-01

HALIFAX, Nova SCOTIA,
Inlv % 1881

New Orleans Crescent hlties, and my
self, sailed from New York a few
days since for this part of the world,
we landed here.on board the Gamma
yesterday at noon, instead of the
other place.
The voyage frorn New York by sea
to Halifax, is pleasant one, if one
happens to catch a calm field of water
to make it in. The route is north
easterly through Long Island Sound,
thence through Vineyard Sound and
across the Bay of Fundy by Cape Sa-
BILE and the celebrated Sambro light
house point.
We struck a heavy sea in the
Bay of Funday, but no gales Never
theless, the Gamma made the time
quite lively by a pleasant habit she
has Of rolling in the most earnest sense
Of the word, on the slightest provoca
ton. The figure of the old country
dance called FIRST four forward and
back again, when rapidly executed is
only an index to the fantastic capers
Of the Gamma in the Bay of Funday.
[ never like to tell tales about any
one, but. an occurrence which took
place on the steamer Saturday morn
ing will serve to illustrate the idea of
her rolling capacity. Harry Allen,
whose bunk is above mine in the same
state-room, conceived the brilliant
project of rising early for the purpose
of going on deck to get on his sea
legs, as he said in a kind of Pima
fore sailor boy style. So he he slid
down from his perch and seated him
self on the cushioned bench in the
room, and by way Of preparation
| for commencing his toilet carelessly
threw his left foot across the right
knee. At this junCture l opened my
eyes from under several pairs of blan-
kets-for the thermometer indicated
| 40 degrees--to answer some remark
addressed to me, just as the ship made
one of her extra dress parade rolls
and just in time to see Harry disappear
like lightning under my bunk
and mix up among the boots and
satchels slowed there. The Steward
fortunately came by at the moment,
land with his assistance, my partner
was landed back in his sleeping place
The "sea legs business was post
poned.
Halifax is one of the cleanest cities
have ever seen. It lies on a
large rock hill, something like
| Vicksburg, but with an unbroken
surface. The slope is gradual from
the extremist height to the water Of
the bay or harbor-by the way, the
harbor is one Of the finest in the
world, being landlocked in horseshoe
shape aud about seven miles broad by
fifteen or twenty in length. The pop
ulatiOn numbers near 10000, and is
made up of Irish, Scotch and British
I
soldiers They are polite and accom-
, modating, but the women, while Of
fine, robust figures, are as homely as
they are in Boston, and that's paying
them very high compliment in that
way. The houses are mostly
old style, with high gables, and
: the sides Of the frame buildings
are shingled like the roofs, but il
is done so neatly that it presents the
appearance Of new style weather
boarding. There are two fine hotels
that is fine for Nova SCOTIA mod
! ernly built operahouse, and a superb
, postofice building. Some of the En-
glish Insurance companies have erect
! ed modern blocks, aud the Parliament
House, two-story aud half stone
structure is a handsome piece Of
architecture.
This peninsular is the most easterly
+ portion Of the Dominion presided
r over by the Marquis Of Lorne, anC
e lies in north latitude 430. Although
in the midst Of summer l find thu
weather cold enough for heavy over
a coat, the thermometer touching 81
G yesterday afternoon and early thi
morning. The chief traffic Of thu
city, as far as | can see, is skates, cod
fish, coal and iron, all ofwhich are tt
r be seen in the gratest abundance
r Thep.ace is Coz y impregnable t
9 attack by va Bi6cations being
S constructed height along
] each tide Of Sir John Nc
Dougal is il command Of the troop
9 stationed here, to whom myself anC
j companion are indebted for courtesiei
D at the Citidel Fort overlooking tn,
g city and barbor
Will sail for st. John, New Found
d land, this afternoon. W.H.R.