The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-04-16
A STRANGE ISLAND.
Americans Should Be interested In
This Place.

|
have been running over the world In
search of novelty, exploring the aa-
larial iungles OF Africa and the frozen
regions OF the north, looking for
strange peoples and customs. they
have overlooked very strange coun-
try close at hand. The island OF
Anegada is one Of the strangest OF all
the strange places in the world.
First of all. where is Anegada! II
Is one OF the Virgin islands. and II
lies northeast OF Porto Rico, one Of
the Great Antilles. and its first pc
culiarlty is that II Is Hat and low. the
neighboring isles all being steep and
mountainous. IL is nine miles long
and two miles across, and lies so low
that in heavy gales the sea makes a
clean breach over the lower portions
OF II. whence its name-for anegada
is the Spanish for drowned island"
Next We come to fits strange history.
In 1881 It had only 7l9 inhabitants. OF
whom but three were white people
Its population is noted for idleness.
and the main occupation for many
years was wrecking-for an extensive
1 and very dangerous coral reef sur
rounds the island and once gave II
very melancholy notoriety. But since
the establishment OF the lighthouse en-
the island OF Sombrcro GA miles 70
the EASTWARD, there have been few.
II any. wrecks on Anegada, since the
main cause OF the shipwrecks was the
constant and swift current which sets
upon the island from the east.
Accordingly the natives are now
not often aroused by the cry OF "A
vessel on the reer'--ihe only call In
the old days which would arouse them
from their almoet perpetual inactivity.
In fact. they are about the LATEST PEG
pie IN the West Indies. although that
is saying great deal.
Anegada used TO be covered with
Internationally OF the kind called
seaside grape. which here IL particu
iarly rich in the valuable gum known
as Jamaica kino. Anegada IL the home
of very numerous and singular tropical
plants. but II is perhaps rather more
noteworthy for It's immense numbers OF
mosquitoes. gallInippers and scorpions.
not 10 speak OF venomous and other
reptiles. The surrounding seas are
rich In scale and she'll FISH OF many
kinds.
Among its singular birds the ia.
mlngo Is one OF the most numerous
species. and most OF the ponds are the
abode OF ducks which. on the approach
OF man. rise and I'LL the air with their
dangerous erica.
II Is not an easy matter To reach the
island. A few years ago an attempt
was made 10 open mines upon IL. but
nothing came OF the effort but disap-
poiDtment and loss. Among the many
disagreeable features OF life In this hot
and steaming climate In the presence
| OF large salt ponds. which In the dry
season give out an intolerable stencil,
and the same ponds In the wet season
MI up with singular rapidIty and food
. considerable portion OF the island
AS we may infer from the name.
Anegada Is pretty frequently flooded.
Whenever a hurricane comes sweep
Ing along the waves roll completely
over the island. and the people have
to look out for their safety.
When Schomburgh, a German tray.
yeicr. was in Anegads many years ago
there was one morning a great cutlery
that all the north part OF the island
was flooded: and so to all appearance
II was: but on examination II was
found that the supposed waves OF the
sea were in reality only a low-lylng
fog which was rapidly sweeping along
| Another curious thing Is the aerial
refracion, and this often brings into
view other islands which lie below the
horizon and which. according TO the
ordinary operations Of nature. ought TO
be invisible.
A part OF the surface Is composed OF
sand dunes. but there is considerable
proportion of calcareous. or coral land,
with belts OF fertile loan, and II the
soil we're intelligently and faithfully
cultivated. It would no doubt yield
good returns.
In ordinary seasons the fresh watef
supply appears TO be ample. On the
northeast side OF the island there is
singular succession OF very deep
natural wells OF fresh water, some OF
them 20 feet across the top.
II would be hard to end anywhere a
hotter, wetter. worse-smelling. or more
generally disagreeable place to live
than Anegada; but, singularly en- ,ugh.
II appears to be for the most part
pretty healthy place-at least for the
natives. Of whom nearly all are black
or colored.
In the antecolonial days. the In.
dams used TO come hi4her In their
canoes; but no Indian could ever
bring himself to make Q permanent
| home In Anegada. With its steaming
fogs. its squalls. Its sea floods. It's
fresh.water foundations. its strong
smells and Its dense swarms of in.
sects; and no American could be per
suaded to spend more than "a hours
or the island. in spite Of Its strange
ness.