The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-13

creased with relative rapidity. being computed
NJ 5000 In 1919. including slaves. UP TO tho
outbreak OF our Revolutionary War the in
habitants Of the Bermudas found In tho Amer
lean colonIs, n mart for their produce. But
after the Peace Of 1883, tho prosperity OF the
island, began to decline and has never been
entirely restored.
Tho Bermudas have enjoyed representative
institutions almost from the date of the nrs'
colonization; the Executive. however. being
appointed ard controlled by the Home Govern
ment. is indie pendent OF tho local Legislature.
The Governor. designated by the Crown. Is a
general of,cer. who also commands the garrison
lie Is assisted by an Executive council OF SIX some
Of whom are er-oToo members, the others
being appointed by the Governor. The Legs
lature consists Of the Governor. the Legislative
Council and the House OF Assembly; The Tor
mer. OF upper house, has three official and SIX
unofficial members the nine parishes return
four members each to the House OF Assembly,
the electoral qualifications being the possession
Of freehold property OF not less than ESQ value
which is raised to e2+O for membership Of tho
Assembly. The members Of both houses arc
paid q a day while sitting; this sum is intended
TO cover expenses. as many Of the members
live al a distance. The elections for the As
sembiy are septennial. The common law OF
England. supplemented nv n number OF local
acts, is enforced in Bermuda. and justice
Is administered by a chief Judge,
two assistant Judges and three police
Magistrates. The seat Of government was
originally situated at ST. Georges. but the
interests OF merchants and shipowners de-
manded a business centre further TO the west
ward. and In 1893 the town Of Hamilton. In
Pembroke Parish. was. Incorporated, and took
It's lame from that OF the Governor for the
time being; in 1878 II replaced ~. Georges as
the seat Of government.
A very important event for Bermuda was tho
decision Of the Imperial Government to make
II a naval station. Admiral Murray, who gave
his name 70 an anchorage TO the north OF 81.
Georges, recommended the construction OF
a dockyard in 1874. and Capt. finder. X. ".
fixed the naval station upon Ireland Island.
Large sums Of money have been spent on the
defence OF the archipelago. The dockyard
Is Of great utility, and the British North .Ameri.
| can squadron continually has recourse to II; IL
| contains the largest floating dock In the world,
which, however, is not OF capacity adequate
10 the proportions of the greatest modern IRON
clads. and II Is proposed 10 build n dry
dock OF sufficient capacity. II Is well known
that telegraph communication between Bermuda
and Halifax was opened on July IL. 1880. The
system has been recently extended from Bar-
muda via Turks Island TO Jamaica and the
West Indies. The extraordinary strategic value
| of Bermuda. considered az a naval and military
station, is attested by its isolation, there being
no other island within hundreds of miles that
could be utilized instead OF IL. Its position
with reference TO the whole Of the North Amer
lean coast. from Newfoundland TO Florida
and the West Indies. Is unique. for, II the isl0nd
be taken as a centre. and a radius OF from 700
to 1000 miles be assumed. We find that II COM
mands all OF the enormous ~coastine washed
BY the Atlantic. as well a. tho outer fringe
OF the West Indies.
II is to be noted that there arc neither rivers
nor springs on the islands, the soil and rock
being so porous that. even after the heaviest
rain, the ground quickly dries. Water for
domestic and other purposes has to DO caught
on the roofs, or in specially prepared recepta-
| Giles, and stored in tanks. Bermuda having
no rainy season, a drought for five or six weeks
is unusual. When the rain ia exceptionally
heavy, the day Is called a tank day. and IL
regarded with much favor by the inhabitants.
as it replenishes the water supply. The an
| nual RAINFALL Is about sixty inches The climate OF
Bermuda is a perpetual summer. the highest tenn
perature not exceeding So degrees and the low
est rangs during the winter months being so de-
grees on the average. Frosti is unknown. although
on one occasion n thermometer laid on the grass
registered 30 degrees. The air Is normally
damp, being laden with moisture from the sea;
the dampness is not injurious. although il has
the disasreeable effect Of producing perspira-
ton, which, OF course, is intensified by the
slightest ~exertion. The extreme purity Of the
air accounts for the healtbiress Of the climate.
and the great charm Of Bermuda is that you can
live. almost all the year round, out Of doors.
Ordinary English clothing can be worn during
the winter months, while, during the summer,
sunstroke il scarcely ever known, and. even
in the hottest weather. a straw hat is sufficient
protection for the head.
The agricult ire OF the islands is in a very
back ward state. Nearly all the fruit has
failed Figs were once most plentiful. while
oranges and peaches throve. Figs have now
entirely disappeared. and oranges are repre-
scented by a few samples OF a bitter variety.
Peaches now never come to anything, and lem
ons and avocado pears are fast disappearing.
Whether this be due to want OF care or to the
introduction of insect pests. Col, Moore. the
author OF the lecture on Bermuda. does not
pretend TO say. Bananas, on the other
hand, 90 wei, ana so 90 all varieties
of melons. The staple industry Is the
cultivation Of potatoes, onions, tomatoes and
market garden produce. exported during the
winter to the United States il Is during the
winter that the crops are generally harvested,
the ground during the summer being too dry
for agriculture. Towering trees constitute
a striking feature Of Bermuda during the sum
mer. In the winter, flowers flourish in great
variety. the roses being particularly beautiful.
Live stock in the shape OF cattle and sheep
have to no imported for slaughter. The latter
do not thrive on the local grass. Cows are
kept for dairy purposes; poultry thrive.
The fish supply j. good, and l.. for the
most part. secured from tn" cirCumjacant
reef. Fishpots are largely used. and the .,sh
taken in them are kept in tanks on the sea-hore.
Turtle are caught, aud can always be obtained
once a week. Bermuda at present enjoys
perfect immunity from reptiles, although
Il is possible that they may be introduced some
day with a beneficial object in view Toads
were imported only a few years ago 70 destroy
some OF the insect life, but they have spread
all over the island. the climate suiting them
too well.
III we --s~--,y
The Land OF the Pink Pearl" Is the pIctur-
esaue name by which the British colony Of the
Bahamas Is known. Sir William Robinson,
the author Of the lecture on the subject here re-
printed. does'not state the area Of the group. and
= IL, -, ,ka a,,k,nas L. -l,..-Ii-