Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-05
A TROPICAL ARCADIA
SKETCH OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE
r BAHAMA ISLANDS.
No Sidewalks, No Fences, No Vehicles, No
Ice Water, but Plenty of Fruit, Fish,
Mosquitoes and Gina Curious Form of
Speech.

Speech.
Especial Correspondence
l. HARBoR ISLAND, Bahamas, April 81
Harbor island is a Bahama metropolis.
Given a harbor, a score of implanted one
story houses, an amphibious population,
and we have Bahama city. Establish a
port of entry there, paint some Of the dwell
mgs, and we have a metropolis.
A bay Of crystal water stretches in front
of it. The sails of small boats fleck the
surface everywhere Fringing the lower
end of the bay is the town. The houses are
many of them white. and the sunlight on
them is perfectly dazzling. They are con-
structed along the side of a slight cleva-
ton. Cocoa palms and other tropical
plants grow luxuriantly, and in the center
Of the mass of white and green floats the
red flag of England over the customs build
ing.
Barnum's circus in Billville did not re-
ceive greater homage than did we Yankees
when we strolled through this settlement.
I suppose we set the fashions in Harbor
island for the next decade. The streets are
lanes and wind about in the1.lost unbiased
manner. OF course there are no sidewalks.
Who ever heard of sidewalks in the Bahia
mas? AS there are no vehicles, pedestrians
have the right of way. BY daylight the
place seems deserted. The ablebodied white
citizens are out on the bay, and the old men
and women and most of the darkies are in
doors, away from the sun. Everything is
wrapped in Sabbath stiffness. Occasion
ally a lad passes along with some pines in
his arms. Business is not rushing here.
Harbor island never had a boom. There
are two stores, with curious and often an
tique variety of goods Glass is an incon-
ceivable luxury. Houses have heavy wood
en- shutters. usually closed to keep out the
mosquitoes The two grogshops shut
promptly at each evening. Ice was never
seen by these people, and drinks are not as
refreshing as some l have tasted. Gin is
the staple liquid absorbed
Two very pretty stone churches aid the
populace to worship God. One of these has an
iron fence around it. Now, fences are almost
as rare in the Bahamas sidewalks. But
Harbor island has two or three and in
this alone deserves the title of metropolis.
The population is about half and half, with
the blacks feeling themselves the superior.
The principal occupation is farming for
pines (pineapples) and going to sea-"
Many schoonerS are constructed at HarbOr
island, and on the beach in front of the
town there is always vessel on the stocks.
Nassau, 40 miles away, Key West, Balti-
more and New York are visited by a few Of
the men. When the voyagers return, all
Harbor island f1ocks to the dock to hear
about the world.
Back of the village, over the HILL is a
magnificent beach, wide solid reach Of
glistening sand, and the great surge of surf
rolling up along it for a mile There are
some wells, with brackish water, near here.
Two white roads connect the wells and the
town. Dark skinned, jolly young men and
maidens traverse these highways and bear
firkins of water on their heads. At night
great lantern beetles fash on every side.
Then, too, boys and girls seek the beach,
where they frolic for hours in the breakers.