The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-28
Islands That May Have Been the
Home of Adam and
Eve.
A Happy Land Where Man Can
Live and Never
Toll.
Oueer Freaks Of Animal Life on tho Coral
Built seychelles In the Indian
Ocean.

present century firmly held the opinion
that the Seychelles Islands constituted the
Eden of Old Testament history. says the
Chicago Tribune. Gen. Gordon has left
such an impress upon the history of the
times that his ideas carry certain weight
with them, no matter how outre they may
appear. The Seychelles form An archipelago
Of ia islands in the Indian ocean, and are
situated in 3 degrees, 80 seconds south lati-
tude, about 400 miles east of Alden, and
1000 miles from Zanzibar. They rise
steeply out Of the sea, eliminating in the
Island of Maize. which is about 5000 feet
above the level of the ocean, and is nearly
miles long and about five miles in width.
The settlement there is now known as Port
Victoria. Only about thirty of the islands
are inhabited. the last census giving them
population of 1900 souls. All these islands
are Of coral growth: What marvellous
upon the earth cities, towns, and villages,
these master builders beneath the waves,
the tiny coral insects, build whole coun-
tries in islands. large and small.
The beaches which surround the
Seychelles are the most beautiful in the
world. They are of glistening white cal
caricus sands, enclosed in coral reefs Of the
most subtle and varied structure. These
coral reefs form q sort of wall around the
islands, and when the SUMS rays fall slant
ing on the sands the shore reflects here and
there light-tinted rainbows Of the most ex-
quisite shades. As the waters: which are
shallow and clear. abound in fish, most of
them of rare colOrs, which can be plainly
seen as they swim y and fro, varying their
graceful movements by occasionally leaping
out Of the water, the scene is surprisingly
beautiful and enhancing: The houses are
built of a species Of massive coral hewn into
square blocks. which glisten like white
marble and show themselves to the utmost
advantage in the various tinted green of
the thick tropical palms, whose immense
fern-like leaves give pleasant and much
needed shade. These palms grow as high
as 100 feet, and sometimes more. They
oveltop the houses, and even the coral built
church-a novel sight and one of the great
curios of Maize. They line the seashore and
cover the mountains, forming in many
places extensive forests. Many trees dis
play simultaneously buds. blossoms, unripe
and ripe fruit.
The soil being extremely fertile, trop-
at every turn. Although the climate is
tropical, the heat is tempered and rendered
bearable by sea breezes, and the sun, in
stead of scorching and burning up the veg
citation, as in other sunny lands, Furnishes
up all about them, 60 that these islands are
great hurricanes which sweep SO destruct
ively over the Bourbon and Mauritius never
come here, and electric storms are rare.
Ike climate is exceptionally healthy, cpl
demic diseases being almost unknown, and
there are no endemic ones. The death rate
averages twelve per Thousand yearly. Men
and women of extraordinarily great age are
frequently met with.
There is little necessity for labor in the
seychelles from which may have emanated
the idea in the mind of the hero of Khar-
toum that these wonderful islands were or
can live in luxury without the 'sweat of
his browp or that of any other mans. The
poor old dying overworked housekeeper's
idea of heaven as place where
she would do nothing forever and ever
could have been realized on this earth had
Here nature has provided meat, drink and
clothing ready to hand. The cocoanut and
banana supply vegetables and drink. The
bread:fruit tree is handy. and the place
abounds in tortoises, the principal being
the black turtle and gigantic turtle. As to
clothing, anything more than the script
ural fig leaf seems unnecessary. Numbers
of coolies and creoles 80 about naked aud
are mot ashamed" which, 80 far az the
supply of clothing is concerned, is unneo-
essary, as garment grows upon every tree.
But the eye soon becomes used to this
1Ao2AOAS 90 ~ uOoo IA bAllc " OLA Otu6THs
however oddly they may strike upon the be-
holder at first. As for fire. it is unneces-
sary for warmth at any time, and for cook
ing purposes is little needed.
How strange it is that these richly EN-
dowed islands. so pre-eminently fitted to be
destitute of it when discovered. while
islands barren in comparison had large
native population when discovered by the
white man. II man was put upon islands
SO much less favorable to his existence
whv not upon these? It certainly lends
from Paradise to find not the slightes
trace Of his existence in these fairy-lik,
isles of the Indian ocean at any time ante
cedent 70 their discovery by the Portuguese
Who're man could live in luxury withou
labor is where the thickest population
might naturally be expected to be found.
But there are no apples on these islands
So in one important feature of the suppose
tion there is failure. But why an apple
May not cocoanut or banana have beef
the fruit with which the serpent temptet
Eve, and which she in turn presented t.
woman by a cocoanut in this part of tn,
world would be as great AZ an apple unde
any other circumstances. A cocoanut woulg
certainly be the appropriate fruit here.
While stretched upon hammock enjoy
ing the idle sensuous life which white peopl
usually lead on these islands, and ponder
ing on these subjects. a female friend ap
preached the writer with an amused anil
upon her oountenance, bearing in her hans
branch of a palm tree with light greer
leaves nearly three inches in length an,
more than one in breadth. Holding IL clos
for inspection, she asked: "What do 70,
think of these leaves?"
"They are pretty in form and of beautiful
shades"
do you see anything beyond leave
there?'