The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30

OF the Bahamas.
And Just here let me say something about
the sponge business. We often see in books
pictures Of the sponge-divers going TO the
bottom Of the sea attached TO long ropes, which
are held by lusty hands on the deck of the
smack or schooner floating above them. Per
haps most Of the sponges used in civilization
come from the Bahama Islands and the Florida
reefs Tut j can assert that very little diving
for spoages takes place there. The
MODE OF GATHERING sPoYGEs
IS this Two "spongers" go out along the reef
I'm their boat OnA handles the oars and the
other looks for and takes the sponges. For
this purpose he has 3 spOnge-hoOk with a
handle Is or 20 feet long to bring up the
sponges from their stronghold on the bottom,
and an ordinary water-bneket with bottom
of spocially-cut common window-glass in it.
through which he scans the bottom, the bucket
being held two-thirds of its depth in the water.
Sometimes. when the water is too deep for the
spear, and good bed Of sponges is found, re-
course Is had 10 diving for them and dragging
them OF the coTal rock by main force. SPonges
of all sizes and shapes are found, from the
small toilet sponge 10 monsters measuring
fhroe feet scross and two in hight Nben
FIRST taken they present anything hut an at
Ifactive appearance, looking like beet-liverS q
little, Tut very Gelstinous, and have nasty,
6ead-fsb odor. The first process after taking
the sToEEcs is to cure them. They are spread
out in the sun until the animal matter is de-
cayed. when they are put through several
rinsin-s in salt water, followed by thorough
washing IN saapsuds 10 remove the offensive
oder, the toilet sponses being washed with
ordinary periumed soap. They are then dried
and hlcached in the sun, aud are ready for
market. The sponge business is very extern
sive aud profitable one 10 the dealers, who con-
irol the trade, but not very remEneTative TO
the sponge fisher.
We are Ia
DELIGHTFUL CLIMATE,
the trade winds blowing constantly and
mildly. and the clouds forming the most varied
aud fantastic figures, constantly changing SO
that you can Rmuse yourself by the hour
watching them. Slight occasional rains also
cool the atmosphere, schools of porpoise race
with the ship, and some of the passengers
Hmuse themselves by taking shot at them.
The gulf weed in green clumps floats by, sud
at times birds light in the rigging.
And now as we steam rapidly toward Turks
Island. whence so much salt is obtained, let
us consider about these West India Islands
that Die sll around ms. There are over 800 OF
them containing over $4,000 square miles oil
territory and having population ofoyeT 4oO0,-
Coo souls, and are owned and held by various
European nations. while the United States
owns not one. England, France, Spain Hoi-
land aud Denmark claim them as possessions,
excepting Hsyti. on which the Republics of
Hayti and San Domingo exist The former
republic was formerly French possession and
the latier 4 Spanish. and the languages Of these
tw0 nations are still the prevailing ones IN
those republics The bahamas arc Hat aud
sandy but the Greater aud Lesser Antilles arc
volcanic, and seem TO have formerly been con-
necied. the mountain ranges which form the
backbone Of each island appearing 10 be con-
tiBuous with the northeastern mountain range
OF Venezuela the peaks rising to hight Of
6,000 70 ZOO feet IN Cuba. Hayti and Jamaica.
Throughout these islands the natives, mix
ture Of Negro, Indian aud European, speak
DIALECT OF THEIR Own,
distinct from any written or recorded language.
II is a conglomerat!on Of languages. with a
basis o. Congo or Guinea African, and is under
stood by few Europeans. In addition 10 this
lingo they al talk one or two Europeaa Ian
RUages brokenly, bat in the cities and towns
speak well and plainly. In the Republic OF
Hayt tie people show the traits OF the North
American Indian very much. and this take
90 be frum the number Of Natchez and other
Indians sent there and sold as slaves by the
French from their Louisiana possessions, after
the great hstcheZ war and massacre ei lI.>s, %.
in tbe Island Of Muutserrat. old saiiors vow
that line inhabitants all talk the Irish language
and ] have heard intelligent Irish sailors say
that they bad conveFsed with them Ia Celtic.
The probability is that the original French
settlers were from Brittany. where Celtic Is
spoken good deal. hear. and / have been in
formed that person understanding Irish can
converse with a Breton talking Celtic. The
Virgin Islands were SO named from story the
natives Of Eayti told Columbus upon has laud-
ing there. of these islands being inhabited
exclusively by women. IN his account Of this
1Est voyage he tells that he lay OG 10 the
southeast Of the ISLANDS in his ships, and was
not very aesirons % land. as the Amazons were
"A krr hut ha
THREE 3EEMAIDs
while cruising 10 the vicinity.
Ste2a.ing away ge pass Turks Island and
make ~ Great Insgua Island, which stands up
out g the sea like a range Of hills tie
plains. We are soon there and putting of
freight H. the neat harbor. While this was
being done one Of tic sailors in the fore chains
haTpOoBed q shark which was proWling around.
and soon large party got ropes over him aud
hauled him aboard. Then came the fun. Every
sailor Kicked he shark, many jumped on him
EBd cursed hiIn, and they at last dispatched him
with 81 AZ. cut OF the head, and threw The
carcass overheard.
Great IuagUa Is IN the CaricOs passage a con-
finUalion II the WindRard passage, which lies
between Cuba and Jamaica OIL the west and
Iiayti on Che east Then Re are of again, and
we sight Point Jean Rabel. in Hayti. we can
hoe tie low blue tOps Of the Cuban mountains
away q oTsr the placid sea. Rounding Point
14ahel sc zee Cape St. Sieolo Mole. where the
United states is proposing TO establish
coaiing station the huge mole or break water,
which with its attendant batteries formerly
mounted 800 or 400 cannon, now all going 10
derzy.
We round Pearl Point and stand southeast
for Port an Prince. running up the Bay Of
GOuaiges. Hayli looks beautiful from the sea-
The grand mountain range. verdurc-ciad and
green. TIsrs seemingly cut Of The translucent
waters, aud ss We run closer IN the bod shore
presents i;sef, than which il is difficult 10 con-
ccive anything more picturesque. The mount
aims then seem 10 stretch diagonaly away
from the sea- the spaces between them forming
most
LOVELY VALLEYS AID gAvAEHAs.
The besdIands are all historic, and everything
seems piciure-like, even 70 the sandy beach on
which breaks the blue sea, forming as IL falls
into f5afn q belt Of almost silver surf. But we
soon fild that " all Is not gold that glittcrs {"
when we place foot on shore. Probably no
epot on earth. take 1t altogether, aud looking
81 u In It's natural aspects, can be found more
lovely. and II is safe 10 say that probably 10
extent of territory tho world over contains
within Itself under proper auspices, 50 many
elements Of prosperity worldly success aud
happiness. as tic Island Of San Domingo or
Hsyti. Many Circumstances serve TO render Tie.
histoTy Of this island peculiarly interesting
90 every Intelligent American mind, for here
we have realized Ia almost every part the
artu4i existence aud daily life OF Columbus;
here we lave the Place first coloBized ia tie
ttw md ltsr 1.sy "a.