The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-03-27
THE ISLES OF JUNE.
THE S U P RSTITIOUS WEST
INDIANS.
Obeahism, and the Wonderful Stories
Told of the YahOOS.
ANDRos ISLANDS, Bahamas. Feb. 2StI

ANDRos ISLANDS, Bahamas, Feb. 2Sth.
DEAR WHId:
Andres Island is the largest of the BAHIA.
mas. 1t is about 96 miles long, by about so
miles wide, and contains nearly 500 square
miles OF territory. The nearest point of
Andros is distant from New Providence,
twenty miles. With the intention of explor
ing certain portions of the island, we left
Nassau, on the morning of Feb. Goth, in one
OF the numerous spongers and arrived at our
destination thirty-siX miles down the coast.
about noon of the same day. The island is
low, swampy and thickly wooded 1t is
intersected by several fresh water creeks.
communicating with an extensive fresh water
lake in the centre, abounding with ducks
and other wild fowl. This island was
named by the Spaniards, Espritu Santo. and
was so marked on the maps until 1899. 1t
was named Andres by the proprietary lords
in honor of Sir Edmund Andres. who was
Governor of New York in 1914, and was ap-
pointed Governor of Massachusetts and New
England in 1886 AS he was connected with
the early history Of our commonwealth of
Maryland, | thought few words about the
island might prove interesting to some Of the
readers of the WHIG.
In 1872, Andres was in command of the
forces in Barbados. This same year the
Bahamas were colonized. The proprietors
conferred on him the title of Landgrave, with
four barones, containing As, 900 acres While
Governor of Massachusetts, the people of
Boston treated him very much in the same
manner, as the Bahama colonists treated
their first governors. He was seized impris-
oned and sent back to England. Edmund
Andros was the first Royal Governor of Mass
achusetts. This was his first offence and
together with seizing the South Meeting
House, caused his name to be hated. Under
the charter granted by Charles the first, the
Massachusetts colonists enjoyed great priyi-
leges. They elected their own governor and
other officers. The government was very
little different from what il is in that state
to-day. Under Oliver Cromwell and later
when Charles the second came to the throne,
that charter was annuled, etc. 1t was a sad
day for Boston. But the people had no
alternative and had to submit to Il power they
could not control. Sir Edmund Andros. the
first Royal Governor arrived in Boston, in
1856, and as expected was received with
sulen silence, especially when he informed
them that justice would be administered in
the kings name. That all laws should be
repealed, that were contrary to the kings
authority, and that there should be religious
liberty in Boston. The latter he put into
practice by notifying the authorities, that he
when not otherwise in use for religious ser
vices. "That they might say prayer there,''
until such time as the Episcopalians could
provide themselves with chapel. This they
soon did by erecting one on the site of the
present Kings Chapel. Lady Andros died
while her husband was Governor, and is
buried in Kings Chapel burying ground.
This arbitrary proceeding of Andros was
really the only just cause of complaint the
people had against him. There is nothing to
show against him as being cruel, rapacious
or dishonest, and nothing whatever affecting
have us believe.
When the people of Boston, learned of the
landing of Prince of Orange in England they
rose against Andros and his government
They seized him and sixty of his associates
and confined them in the castle until 1890
They were then sent to England for trial. No
case being made. they were discharged.
Ap,1rnS
that under the new administration he was
appointed in 1862, Governor of Virginia and
Maryland He brought over the charter of
Mary and William College, of which he laid
the foundation. During his long public
career Sir Edmund Andres was Governor at
land and was honored with Office by four
successive monarchs.
The population of Andres is about 1900.
The island produces any amount of fancy
woods, sugar cane. oranges bananas, pine
apples, cocoanuts. etc. 1t is cultivated to
some extent, but the greater part of Andres
is still unexplored, and without doubt it
has considerable resources which, if properly
developed and cultivated, would supply the
New England and Middle States with fresh
fruits and vegetables during the winter.
1t is the intention of Prof G. j. Maynard,
of Boston, Mass, who is Il naturalist and who
together with his wife and daughter, were
Fellow passengers with me on the Antila. to
thoroughly explore Andres this winter. To
him | am indebted for much of the above.
Mr.. Maynard has been coming to the Bahamas
for more than twenty years in search of ma
terial for his lectures and numerous books on
scientific subjects. The results of his labors
can be found in all the first-class college mu-
seums and libraries of the world In his
numerous visits to these islands he has dis
covered many things new to science, and they
have generally been named for him. While
here | was treated to my first sight of Obeah-
ism or rather we We're present when Il case
was tried before his honor Capt. Stuart resi-
dent justice. The parties interested were all
colored and the charge made by the plaintiff
was to tho effect that the accused on several
different occasions had hagged her children.
To make it palmer one woman charged the
other with bpWjtchi her children and as