Thomas County cat., 1886-10-28
BERMUDA ISLANDS.
Their Topography, History. Products, and
Other Items of Interest.

Their Topography, History, Products, and
Other Items of Interest.
The Bermudas are a group of small
islands belonging to Great Britain.
situated in the Atlantic Ocean, $50
miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. The
group is formed upon coral reef, and
is eighteen miles in length and six in
greatest breath. The group contains
nearly 400 islets, most of them being
mere points of rocks, and not more
than twelve of them are inhabited.
The area of their entire surface is not
more than 1900 acres. Bermuda, the
largest island, is sixteen miles long
and about one and a half miles in
width. The other principal islands are:
st. Georges, Ireland. Somerset and St.
David's. The islands are nearly sur
rounded with hidden coral reefs, max
ing approach to them difficult, bui
there are several good harbors. ST.
Georges Isle, the military station OF
the colony. commands the entrance OF
the only passage for large vcss ls,which
is defended by strong batteries. The
climate of the islands is peculiarly de-
lightful. the Thermometer ranging from
60 to &c degrees Fahrenheit N the win
ter season and from S} to 86 degrees
Fahrenheit in the heat of summer, and
the air is moist at all times The soil
IS fertile, and vegetation remains green
through the entire year. The chief
productions of the islands are arrow
root, coffee. cotton. garden vegetables.
and fruit. A fine quality of rum is also
made and exported. Cedar trees grow
abundantly. and their wood is exported
and also used in the manufacture of
the small, swift vessels with whose aid
the islanders visit one another for busi-
ness or pleasure. The fisheries of the
islands are very valuable. There are
no fresh-water streams or wells on the
islands, but rain-water. caught in
cisterns, is used for all purposes. The
only large towns are Hamilton, situ-
ated on Bermuda. and ST. George. on
the isle of the same name. The Der
muda Islands were discovered in iy22.
by Jean Bermudez. Spaniard. who
was wrecked on them. Sir George
Somcrs was also wrecked here IN 1909
on his way to Virginia. He continued
his journey after repairing bis vessel.
and the glowing description which he
gave of the islands induces. colon.
from Virginia to emigrate thither in
1911. The groupwas first called Som
ers' Islands, but later the name was
changed IN honor of It's first discOverer.
In 1914 a colony from E~gland settled
on the islands under "a charter from
James l., and in 1910 regular govern
ment was established there During
the civil war many persons of position
and wealth took refuge on the islands,
and the colony became large and pro-,
porous. The government of the Ber.
mudas consists of a Governor and Coun.
cil appointed by the Crown. and an as
sembly of So members elected by the
people. The population, according to
the census taken in 1881, is 13,9i8 in
habitants, of whom about 5000 are
white people. There was penal col
cuy established here early in the cent
ury. but it was given hp in 1862. There
are a number of schools and churches
on the islands, and the white persons
resident here are possessed of much
wealth and Chicago Isster
Ocean.