Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-20
NASSAU
(specis, Correspondents 10 The Tribune

whole heavens seeming nllod Win isiiips
stars. As We poor isolated beings had
not been cabled Of the coming OF the
comet, we could not attribute this dis
play to anythins--simply thought II
another sample Of the tropics, and . very
lovely evening sky II made for us. Sun
day brought Us the mail, and the papers
describing the comet and prophesyipg
meteors In plenty between Thursday
and Sunday. That accounted for our
wonderful sight which came to this little
island somew hat In advance, but We have
not as yet seen the dreaded orbit itself,
with It's fiery tail.
We are finding new sights daily, all
quaint, and strange to US. We can and do
quote In a most irreverent manner from
Bishop Heber's hymn:
"w here every III aspect pleasas
Ana n man ID VIZ ."
some OF the men are really so villainously
ugly. You would understand this better
II you could walk with US q mile or two,
or sit with US on our shaded veranda, and
watch the passers. by. The people here
are more than two birds co ored and what
with the climate which disinclines one to
exer Use, and their indolent, lazy-going,
the result is apparent In the wretched APP
pearsnce, shoeiess, in rags, and still con-
tented. With little to eat, drink or wear,
provided this little can be obtained with
no exertion, all is well. The women carry
all their burdens upon their heads, and
doing this from early childhood, they
have q wonderfully erect carriage and
really some of them may be said TO be
graceful. But mingled In with these
specimens, you find better class.
The police are all coiored and fine looking
men In their white uniforms. The sol.
diers quartereo here are all black, with a
few White officers. The bugle call, morn
ing and evening, is very sweet and as the
barracks are near us, We can hear the
music Of the band which has lately come
to US.
was surprised to learn Of the large
amount Of fruit exported from this place.
heard from a most reliable source that
in 1886, 100000 oranges were sent from
this island alone. AS there are any mum.
Der OF islands lying around us, and all ex-
porting oranges and pineapples, the rev.
enue ought to be of considerable value,
and 1t would seem az II there should be q
little more interest taken In the raising
Of the fruit. 1t seems TO me these people
take what comes to them by nature,
without much labor, and never think of
assisting In this great work.
Since 1888 1 think their orange trees
have been blig hted by some insect, 1t 10
said, probably like our experience with
pear, plum and peach trees.
We have taken two long drives lately.
One TO tbs south shore which wound
through groves OF cocoanut trees and
palmetto palms, with here and there long
stretches Of ground under cultivation OF
the nsai industry. The road was COM
posed OF coral rock, and being mostly
hilly must have been hard upon the poor
native horses. But we rode compare
lively comfortable. A balky horse and a
sleepy driver made some of our party
slig ghtly nervous. The long stretch OF
sandy beach reminded one of Newport
but as we returned from the shore and
wide stretch of water we were again in
the tr, pics-not q glimpse of Rhooe Is
land scenery.
Our last ride was towards the eastern
beach and our entire way was by the
waters edge. We passed several small
boats that were landing turtle-such a
quantityi but they not only can make use
OF the meat, but they polish the shell,
which sells well to the lovers Of marine
curiosities.
On one side of as was the water, while
on the other were cosy valleys and bright
uplands, verdant, and cool, with palm
groves spreading out wide branches as II
inviting you to their shade. We saw
clusters OF bananas, groves OF lemons and
oranges, tall coccsnut trees, lines, plan
tains and many other fruits. The land
scape In many places is bright with wild
flowers which are forever budding and
blooming. The stately oleander, scarlet,
white, pink and yellow, poured their fra
grance on the air. But what most inter.
ested me was our first view OF the bsnyan
tree, W which sends down It's roots from it's
branches, and 1t looks very odd to see the
still uncoDnected roots floating In the air.
We gst hered prickiy pears and Wild flow
ers In profusioD, and among them the
beautiful Christmas roses, that face
almost as soon as plucked, unless, as the
legend says, they are gathered at the eve
OF the anniversary of the birth OF our
Lord. INF.
NOVEMBER 30, 1892.