The Van Buren press., 1896-08-29
During the last ten years an industry

bc Vi great HnpOflancet III is tue cultl-
walton of sisal, species of aloe (agaye
amerieana), the fiber of which supplies
the best material for rope making.
There are several plantations of it in
New Providence, Abaeo, and other is
lands, but Andres is found most suita-
BILE for its growth. This is the largest of
the Bahamas, and the one lying nearest
Nassau. 1t is 90 miles long and 40 miles
across the middle, with population of
3,400 of which only 20 or 30 are white
people. 1t has a rocky soil and is COW
cred almost everywhere with impene-
trable bush. The few settlements are
on the east coast, and the center Of the
island has never been explored This
furnishes food for the superstitious and
faneiful minds of the negroes, who re
late wonderful tales of a race of giants
and various supernatural beings who
are supposed to inhabit the interior
and occasionally visit the coast at night.
Almost all the settlers on this island arc
engaged in sisal cultivation, of which
there are several large plantations, that
of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, NJ. p, being
notable.
The long struggling island of Eleu
thera has also sisal estates, though the
local speciality is the raising of pineap-
pies. The island is cooler in summer
than Nassau, and many of the inhab-
itants are glad to escape from the me-
tropolis to Governors Harbor and other
settlements, where decent accommoda-
tions may be found, which is more than
can be said of most Of the other islands.
1nagua, the most southerly of the
group, lying close to Iayti, is somewhat
different in character. 1t possesses eX-
tensive prairie lands and numerous wild
horses. Mention must be made Of San
Salvador, which was the first land
touched upon by Columbus. He stso-
sequently visited New Providence, De-
tober II, 1892, which he named Fernan-
dina after Ferdinand of Spain.
The island was chiefly celebrated in
early days on account of the deeds of
daring set of pirates who had fixed on
Nassau as their headquarters. The
reefs and shoals which surround tie
harbor made a convenient retreat for
those knowing the waters, but extreme
ly dangerous for any unwary vessel that
might be driven towards the shores.
The pirates at length attracted so much
attention that, at the solicitation of
British merchants George I. dispatched
an armament to reduce the colony to
a1N ba Only -t,ft ha
American war of independence the is
land was taken by Commodore Hopkins,
but abandoned as untenable. twas re-
taken in ISL by the Spaniards a7d
Americans, but afterwards restored to
Great Britain.
OF course the palmy days of the BAHIA
mas 0ike the other West Indies) were
before the abolition of slavery; still
during the American civil war, money
literally poured into Nassau. Itwns the
principal center for blockade running.
and all provisions and stores were
bought up at fabulous prices.
The sights of Nassau are certainly
not numerous; there are two, however,
which the visitor should not neglect.
The first is the phosphorescent lake
which lies two miles east of the town.
and only about so yards from the sec,
with which it is connected by chan
mel It is said to be the most phospho-
resent piece of water in the world, but
the reason of the phosphorescene has
never been satisfactorily explained.
The lake, or pond, is artificial, having
been cut many years ago, probably for
storing turtle. Certain it is that on any
dark night the water presents a won
derful spectacle. A boat is there for the
use of visitors, and plenty of small boys
always on hand to dive under and
around it. AS soon as the water is dis
turbed. it appears simply transformed
into liquid fire.
The other sight to be recommended is
a visit to Grantstown tone of the native
settlements) on q Saturday evening
Stalls covered with various comestibles
line the roadway, each one brilliantly
illuminated by a small bundle of can
dlewood, which forms splendid natur-
al torch. Then there are shanties where
Characteristic negro singing and dane
ing may be heard and seen.
Surely there never was such a place
for psalm-singing as Nassau; it seems to
be the only dissipation of the colored
people. Almost every night there is a
function in the various churches and
chapels; if it is not a service, it is
choral practice. The negroes are not
ably musical race, and here they have
fun opportunity of cultivating their
tastes as far as psalmody is concerned.
The knowledge of the tonic sofia is
widely diffused, and the part-singing
Of the peopleA really admira BILE; the
quality of the Voices often leaves much
to be desired, but the singing is correct
and always hearty, not to say bolster
Gus. The sailors on the sponge boats
and other craft. when their attention is
not otherwise required, usually pro-
duce their tonic sofia books and begin
deciphering new tunes, sometimes in
two or three parts, in really eXtraor-
binary way. In short. when the negroes
are not talking or eating'they are usual
ly singing hymns. There arc several
races of negroes in the islQnds, srS
cessors of those originally brought ty
the Spaniards. Some of the African
languages are still spoken by the older
people amongst themselves, though
English is the only language one hears,
and remarkably pure English it is, for
the most part, with but very little
slang.
Mosquitoes are a terrible scourge to
A. ;-I,v1 ~+f11 F-,r,, Nova,,,bo. j., No.,