Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
Written for The Evening star.

Written for The Evening star.
Col. Sam G. Reid, who has lately returned
from an exploring tour of the Azore Islands,
gives the following interesting and graphic
sketch of his observations, with some tradition
AIRY legends:
The archipelago of the Azores consists of
nine islands-Flores, Corvo, Gracioso, Ter
ceira, St. Georges. Fnyal. Pico, San Miguel
or st. Michaels and St Mary's. running W..
NV. to E-S.E and covering a linear distance
of some 300 miles. These islands are situated
between 36o so and 99o A north latitude and 25o
10 and s1o Z west longitude from Greenwich,
the average latitude being that Of Philadelphia
They are mostly surrounded by high, rocky
cliffs. or palisades, from 30 to 800 feet high,
having only narrow inlets for landing. without
any safe. natural harbors, and may be said to
be the Gibraltars of the Atlantic. for they are
almost impregnable from assault. The two
principal ports of commerce are Da Horta, ct
Fsyal, and Ponta Delgada, at San Miguel.
which have artificial harbOrs by means of
breakwaters built out for the protection of
vessels. But all cargoes are landed in lighters.
Terceira. Fayal, Pico and San Miguel are the
most important and interesting. The latter is
the largest Of the group. being about forty
miles IN length and nine to twelve in width
Its principal seaport is the beautiful city Of
Pcnta Delgada, numbering 5000 inhabitants,
with many elegant buildings. grand roads,
leading to Gardens Of Eden through magnifi-
cent scenery. with some old converts and
churches built over 800 years ago.
PoSTA DELGADA.
Ponta Delgada is situated on the southwest
point of the island and is about three miles
square. with cultivated farms on the rising
hills in its rear. gradually extending to til 9
lofty peaks of the mountains like fearful waves
Of the sea which loom up along the center of
the island. IL is the third city of importance
IN the kingdom of Portugal. The principal
commerce of these islands Is with England.
though there is a line of sailing vessels from
Boston which make the voyage every three
months, and steamship has lately been put
an by Portuguese company to run between
New York and Lisbon via the Azores.
1t Is remarkable that there is so little COM
Ilunication or trade with the United States and
indeed, IL would seem that the history and at
fractions Of these islands are but little known
to the American people, who generally appear
to be ignorant of their existence or location
Had they any idea of the wonderful display of
their marvellous beauties and understandable
freaks Of nature, their extraordinary hot and
cold springs OF every known character Cat San
Miguel, which should make it the greatest
health resort Of the world. the exhilarating
palmy climate. the magnifcence of their gar
den parks and the superiority of their delicious
wines and fruits. they might be induced to visit
this terra lncognita or unknown fairy islands
of the world.
HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIS.
The old world history of the islands of the
Atlanti S is full of the deepest interest to the
scientist, naturalist and student of geology, as
well as to the common public. 1t is believed
that the islands of the Azores, Madeira. the
Canaries and Cape de Verbs once formed
part Of the .lost continent" or great island,
as 1T was called, then known as the Atlantis.
be but little doubt. As early as the fourth
century before Christ, Thepompus, whose
works were composed in that period, refers to
the continents which we now call Europe Asia
and Africa as being surrounded by the sea- ~
but that beyond them. to the westward, sex
listed an island, or continent, Of immense ex-
tent. containing great cities, peopled by civil
lied and orderly nations" This is confirmed by
Solon, the Greek philosopher, poet and law
giver. who lived GOO years Il. c., and on visit
ing Egypt received from the Egyptian priests
what purported to be "an account of the
island Of Atlantis ard which was transmitted
TO his descendant Plato and by him preserved
in his writings 400 years b. G.
In this account il appears that the first king
of Atlantis was Poseidon, who divided his
Kingdom into ten parts, giving tenth to each
Of his ten sons. To Atlas, the eldest, fell the
largest and fairest portion. and he was made
king over his brothers, who ranked as princes
From him the whole island and surrounding
ocean received the name of Atlantis. These
ten kings possessed II. 900 chariots. The Allan
tisisns were apparently sun worshipers and
erected to the honor of their deity magnificent
temples, with statues and ornaments of gold
and silver, which abounded. The people had
attained to a high degree of civilization and
built vast temples Of worship and palaces for
their princes, as well as hsrbors and dock yards
for their ships, their ports being open to the
free trade of foreign vessels, which frequented
the same.
LARGE FLEET OF WAR SHIPS
There was abundance of timber for all pur-
poses, and their own feet numbered 400 sbips
Of var. There were all the various kinds of
fruit trees, cereals and shrubs. Cattle horses
and other domestic and wild animals abounded
They had numerous fountains Of hot and cold
springs. which they used largely for bathing
themselves and also their horses OF which they
took extreme care.
Now. in those days the island Of Atlantis was
larger than Libya and Asia put together, and
was situated in front of the straits called tho
Columns of Heracles and was the way to other
islands, and from the islands you might pass
through the whole of the opposite continent.
which surrounded the true ocean. For this
sea. which is within the straits of Heracles is
only harbor, having narrow entrance, but
The other IL q real sea, and the surrounding land
may be truly called a continent
GREAT AND WONDERFUL EMPIRE.
At that time Atlantis was great and won
derful empire, which had rule over the whole
island and several others. as well rs over parts
Of the continent, and besides these they sub
jected the parts OF Libya within the Columns OF
Herecies as FAR as Egypt. and Of Europe as far
- Tyrrhenia- This vast power thus gathered
into one had been wonderfully aggressive
towards the whole of Europe and Asia and en-.
deayOred to subdue at one blow Egypt and
Greece and all the lands within the straits In
this great struggle Greece shOue forth in all the
excellence of her virtue and strength among
all mankind for she was the first in courage
and military skill and was the leader of the
Heilenes- And when the rest fell off from her
being compelled to stand alone after having
undergone the very extremity OF danger sh,
defeated and triumphed over the invader.
But afterward there occurred violent earth
quakes and floods. and in a single Glay and nigh
If rain all the warlike men of Greece sank in a
BODY into the earth and the island of Atlanti.
In Ike manner disappeared and Was sunk be
meath the sea
THE FIRST ISLAND DISCOVERED.
After the sun had marked its golden talliei
on the western horizon Of bygonc centuries O
time, the first island discovered Of the Azoriar
group that of Santa Maria OF ~: Nary's
IN 1882 Ii was found to be fertile. well
wooded island. but totally uninhabited 1
Was first cOlOnized in 1885 under the auspice
VI Prince Henry, sor of John j. King of Por
tugd- Ii is celebrated for having had III,
honor Of receiving Christopher Columbus OF
the 18th Of February, 1923. who. on returnin,
Nrlrra 80 4. -