Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-02
miscellaneous.
Negro Paradise.
The WEST INpIA ISLAND OF CALcAEEoUs
Rock COVERED WITH FLOWERS AND
HAPPY AFRICANS.


HAPPY AFRICANS.
Right out OF the sea. $50 miles from
the Florida coast, rises huge rock, %
miles long and miles wide. 1t is the
smallest of the Bahama Islands, and is
called New Providence. II is the second
place where Columbus landed on his voy-
age to the Western World. and the only
town Of note in the Bahamas marks the
spot. Nassau. even at this season. nestles
in a wilderness of flowers, plants and
fruits There is not tree, shrub o.
flower that thrives in any warm climate
which does not grow luxuriantly there.
said 1t was a rock upon which these beau
ties grow and blossom, and over which
never-ending summer breeze blows the
seeds Of health by tempcring the warmth
Of tropical sun until it strikes a happy
medium where all season is summer. and
mankind basks in an atmosphere praeti-
cally invariablc twelve months in the year.
and trees, shrubs and flowers thrive IN
chaotic profusion all the year round.
How contrary this is TO what is known Of
nature i'm frost land, and yet how crudclv
true OF what is seen here every hour in
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 a calcareous rock Of coral,
soft and pliable to the mechanics hand,
filled with shells and sand and spit upon
nv the ocean until cemented BY its brine.
The surface in places rots, forms a thin
soil, and in this, or wherever a crack or
crevice is found. the gayest flowers bloom.
There is not bit of fancy in this. II is
the truth homely told To describe its in
habitants would be to parade before you
a mass OF colorcd men, women and chill
dren, cheaply, but neatly dressed. bare
footed and bonnetless. but happy and po-
lite. Out Of a population Of $1,000, more
than 10000 are negroes. and unusually
intelligent. Shining out from this dark
ness is now and then native white face,
intelligent and healthy. and al this sea-
son numbers of foreign faces, which look
~ ii i'm search of health. The houses are
rs neat rs the people, and all Of them are
smOthered in flowers and shrubbery. III
almost every yard. as well as growing
wild, are cocoanuts, oranges, guaves. so
fadillos, mangocs. and all sorts of fruit
hang. in all stages-bud, blossom, half
grown and the natural fruit. The drives
over the town and through the island are
superb, smooth rs q floor and of solid
rock lined on either side with tangled,
sweeping vines, s.unted trees and Hover
ing plants. The oleander towers its high
head among the more pretentious tropical
plants, while our own modest morning.
glory. so dear to our childhood, peeps out
from behind the leaves, the dew resting
upon its purple lips to be kissed away by
the morning sun. No tongue can tell or
pen write of the beauties either of land or
sea, which are everywhere visible. The
island makes Il beaut fl picture Is you APP
proach it from the ocean. rising as it does
from the waters edge by a gradual incline
to the height of 300 or 500 feet, every foot
of the way up showing the tropical plants.
flowers and fruits ut their best.
The climate and surroundings are us
near perfection rs one ought to expect to
find upon this earth. The surface of the
island is rolling, and what soil there is. is
very rich The bulk of vegetation seems
to spring from the solid rock. aud actually
does from the cracks and creviccs. Where
ever room is found. root creeps in, and
the lime in the stone feeds it. The lack
of soil and the necessity ofremoving solid
stone to aid vegetation. prevents much
cultivation of the soil. and there are very
few vegetables grown in eli nate espec-
tally adapted to their production. Fruits
are the principle staples, and upon these
the natives live to Il very great extent. All
tropical varieties grow in abundance. and
are remarkable rich and nutritious. Every
variety of fish is taken in abundance. and
enters very largely into the domestic econ
omy of the natives. The chi, { industry of
the island is sponge gathering Nassau
". T.. Correspondence Boston Heraid.