Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-09-02
ing brought us to Fortune Island,

WhSlS we uloDpSu lOI d COu-
pie OF hours, this being the only place
pink pearls are found. The natives
(negroes) bring them on board for
sale when they have any, but this
morning none were to be had. The
afternoon was spent in steaming
through the windward passage. Next
morning when | awoke, looking
through my window to the north,
beheld mountains covered with green
foliage. In a few minutes l was on
deck and learned that it was across
these same mountains our own Victor
Blue went on foot, imperiling his
own life at every step, but not re-
turning until he saw floating in San
tiago Bay the Spanish squadron; his
report of this fact leading to Admiral
Schley's brilliant naval victory some
days later. 1t is the Southern coast
of Cuba along which we are now
of Santiago being plainly discernable,
and some of the hulks of the Spanish
fleet are to be seen here yet.
Shutdown brought us to the quaint
city of Montego Bay, on the Island of
Jamaica. The bay itself is quite
beautiful, the water in it's unusual
clearness reminding me forcibly Of
our limpid biue Ridge streams, for
great schools Of fish could be seen
there at a depth Of from 20 to 30
feet. I don't think | ever saw pret-
tier sheet Of water than this, sur
rounded as 1t is on three sides by
mountains of considerable altitude,
being covered with luXuriant tropi"
cal foliage Particularly to be noted
along the shore line were the great
cocoanut trees, palms and bananas.
We went ashore here and spent the
morning wandering through the mar
ket, which Is very similar to the MAJ
kets at Baltimore, New Orleans and
other cities of the States, though
did find that they had their tobacco
twisted into ropes, and they sold this
by the yard. From here we passed
out into the streets, which are very
narrow, the houses being built
straight up from the streets. 1t
seemed so strange that such should
be the custom, when in such CHI
mate they could have such magnifi-
cent yards and lawns. as / saw flow
ers of every color, and I suppose,
variety blooming in great profusion.
Those to whom summer climate ap-
peals. / should think, would find this
an ideal spot, as the temperature the
day we were there (February 1st
was about like our June days. This
seemed very strange after leaving
twelve inches of snow and sleet in
New York. The population of the
town Is 5000, only 100 Of whom are
white people, rs Of them Jews, the
remainder being negroes.
From here we steamed around the
island to the city Of Kingston, which
has $4,000 people and is the chief
city of the island, though its loca-
ton is not nearly so beautiful as that
Of Montego Bay. We saw on every
side evidences of the terrible earth
quake they experienced twelve
months previous, many walls being
entirely demolished, while others
were leaning in various directions,
and still others rent with great
cracks. In the suburbs Of Kingston
Is quite an up-to-date hotel, which
is usually filled in the winter season
with New York and London tourists.
On all sides were to be seen all varie-
ties OF tropical fruits, which could be
purchased for mere triffe.
Two days sailing brought us to
Colon, Panama, and the Canal Zone.
This impressed me as being by far
the most favorable place for stopping
| have seen since leaving the United
States. The government has had
erected at convenient places camps,
or rather towns. These consist of
neat cottages, with an occasional
hotel. the porches and windows Of
which are all screened, all being
lighted with electricity. Here and
there walks have been graded, and
at Cristobal ! saw what ] conside~
one Of the most beautiful driveways
I have ever seen, It being lined at
regular intervals on either side with
cocoanut trees. or course all the
dense tropical foliage has been cut
away, and here and there, on elevat-
ed spots along the route, could be
seen the immense petroleum tanks.