The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-24

are very primitive, one stoieyed, with per
haps an attic. They are of plain weather
boarding aud present most dllapidatet
and tumble-down appearance. Timber
from wreckage is the usual material o.
structure, large quantities of it being otter
found along the beach, The interiors are al
crude as the outside, without lath or plaster
and the plain walls are only relieved b,
occasional prints from the Police Gazette oi
illustrated papers. A great deal Of the
clothing is Of homespuD. Garding, weaving
and spinning is done on the island. A native
of the place, whose family for generations
back had existed there said that the first
pair of shoes be wore was when he was a
boy of 13 years. He worked for the leather
by hiring out for Z DAYS to. .1,s stcepon, al
evergreen shrub which is used as a beverage,
in the place of tea.
He worked three days Tor the cobbler who
was to make the shoes. The lad wanted
them to attend party. But upon the day
the party came off onl; one shoe was finished.
He wore the one shoe and tied the other foot
up in the handsomest rags lie could get; he
ayerred however that the foot with, the shoe
went around ten times livelicr than the one
with the rags on, to the delight of himself
and all there.
There is a population on Hatteras Bank
estimated at from 1900 to 1000. Among
them are neither lawyers nor doctors. There
is not a drug store, nor are there any police
on the island. No rents are paid and
there is no appearance Of government.
There is no crime, or law breaking.
Local option exists and it istigidly adhered
to. The political bias is stongly Republi-
can as the type of religion is that of Metho-
dism of the old fashioned clamorous order.
At Hatteras and other points there are
churches which are regularly atten ded.
They "raise" their own preachers who are
of the crudest stamp of the old shouting
kind. The people are strongly superstitious
and are remarkable for their hospitality.
Pay is seldom asked either for meal
or lodging. Although there are or 4 an
cient wind-mills to be found along the
stretch of so miles, the greater part of the
natives grind their a our for family use with
the ancient hand-mill.
The men Of the "Banks" are usually so
afraid of sudden squalls and changes in the
weather that communication with the west
ern shore is most infrequent; when attempt,
run back. There is bi-we6fiy mail but, on
account of the weather it rs more otter
weekly.
Ii is quite warm there duripg this montl
(January.) Children are padding aoou
barefoot in the water. No mitts or over
coats are seen. 1t is claimed that Hattera
l
Point is the nearest to the Gulf stream, o
any point on the Atlantic coast, after
leaves the Tortugas and Florida. 1t is S
much warmer than the mainland opposit
ON the other side of the Sound, that the CON
mon saying has obtained that the Banks ar
"a Jacket warmer!"
OYSTERS and fish of every kind are abunt
ant here. While rowing along the beach,p
dipping the arm into the shallow water son
fine native oysters were picked up of IL
beds, were opened and eaten on the spc
They were in unlimited quantities. The
are many fisheries staked elt seines 1O
Yards and sometimes mile long. The hs
ermen GENE daily to take out the fish, Ju
now they are preparing for. the shad a
herring fishery.
The porpo!se, properly speaking Is not
fish. 1t is a mammal, and warm-bloode
CESSATION continues months, and SIN
" one is produced at birth. 1t is viviparo'
~ When the COW is caught the calf will sw
~ I'm and down the surf, sometimes for Q
or two looking for its mother. The yo'
VI are full grown in 12 months. The mann
- are two, situated on either side of the gen
u organ, during lactation they protrude'
~ while the captured COW lies upon the be
milk may be elected in copious quaint
" bya slight pressure of the footon those pa
'No Professor f. W True, curator of mammals
no' the Smithsonian Institution, who has rec
Ae' lv spent two weeks at Hatteras has ord
samples Of porpoise milk for the Natl
Museum. As soon as landed the fish are Xxi
when they utter loud plaintiye cries u
III the ooeration, Tie fishermen say should
'n's become entangled in the meshes of the
'i'i' they will drown just as quickly as HI
heir 80
being.
io'A The natural products of Hatteras 1
n"' are live oak, ironwood, pine, cedar,
=" bay, laurel, dogwood, wych hazel, ew
Wing mulberry, fig, peach, apple, pinnetto,
potatoes, &c. The coon and the pc
'he abound, as do mink, and there are a
ihes deer on the island. Water fowl and fl
a'eiS every kind abound. Private parties
louse New York have secured sections G
r"aS island for hunting and fishing.
paths T. r,+.,os arc 1bo Years belir
dway eyeryth ng. Were it not for the
beinp | p,o,.,,,b and the limited States Mai