New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
West Indies Make Attractive
Automobile Touring Ground
Cuba the Bahamas and the Windard Islands All Present
Picturesque Features for the Motorist Who Has
Seen America and Can't See Europe

priScd within the group an tHulC-9 ~"
terest. Yachting and boating OF every
style, exceptional fishing, COLL, tennis
and a great variety Of social events
serve TO fiji the time TO such good pur-
pose that life in Bermuda is Literally
one LONG holiday With such perfect
roads as the islands possess, roads
constructed by convict labor without
regard 10 expense, it seems pity that
automObiling is not permitted Dut sUch
are the regulations, and visitors are
obliged TO content themselves win
reaching Bermuda's many charming
spots and interesting localities by
means of horse-drawn carriages. Inc
residents appear 10 use the bicycle 10
the cxlusion Of all other means OF loco
motion. and certainly no vehicle IS
more suited TO the smooth and gently
undulating roads that radiate from
Hamilton to every part OF the beautiful
island.
A regular service is maintained be-
tween New York and the town Of Ham
ilton, Bermuda, by the Quebec Steam
ship Company, whose steamers take
two days on the voyage. Passenger
fares range from about $50 10 5000, ac-
cording TO stateroom occupied. II may
interest intending visitors TO Bermuda
10 know that, in spite of its being the
British naval headquarters in the Al.
lantic, no passports arc required and
there are practically no regulations OF
any kind to worry tourists on shore.
Nassau's Attractions
Another island group that is becom
ing a favorite touring field of Ameri-
can visitors is the Bahamas, of which
Nassau, on the island of New Prov
dence, is the chief town. These islands.
consisting of an enormous number or
islets and coral atols, many of which
are uninhabited, are situated some 200
miles southeast of the Florida PENN
sula and belong geographically TO the
Greater Antilles. The historic inter
est of the Bahama group Is consider
able. dating. indeed. from the fateful
day OH which Columbus landed on one
of its islands. The tropical cOloring
of its vegetation and the quaint MKT
ure of old Spanish and British atmos-
phere that poTvades the ancient little
towns gives a charming foreign aspect
TO the whole place that Is peculiarly
attractive TO the visitor from the Unit
ed States. .,
Nassau is most conveniently reached
from New York by the steamers of the
Ward Line. which leave every Thurs
QdN ana lNhe lNb VI AiiAtt hNf WI WV
VOYAGE. Passengers fares vary from
$50. according to location Of stateroom.
As i'm the case Of Bermuda, it is not
necessary to provide ones self with
passport when visiting the Bahamas.
; The freight rate charged for automo-
biles, travelling unpacked as passen-
gers baggage, is 1912 cents per cubic
foot. and formalities connected with
customs and licenses are rendered as
little irksome as possible to visiting
motorists. Nassau may also be reached
from Jacksonville, Fla.
Much further aheld, lying like pro-
tecting barrier along the eastern edge
of the southern Caribbean Sea, are
the Windward and Leeward Islands,
group of the Lesser Antilles, stretch
ing in a north and south direction from
Porto Rico 10 the mainland of the
Venezuelan coast
Must Lighter Cars
Some delightful tours can be made
In these picturesque and intensely IN
teresting regions, though. owing to the
fact that the steamer does not dock
anywhere except at the British island
Of 81. Lucia, the question OF taking an
automobile for touring purposes need
not be considered. Even in Barbados,
where automobiles are in constant use
on the splendidly level roads, there are
no facilities for landing cars except
Il by lighter.
cosmopolitan and international char
acter. the places touched by the steam
er of the Canada Steamship Line on
its way TO British Guiana, for instance,
including such varied national al
legiances as the newly American St
Thomas and st. Croix. the British at
. St Kits and Antigua, French at Gauda-
loupe, British at Dominica, French
once more at Martinique. the birthplace
of the Empress Josephine, and then
string OF British islands, including ST.
Lucia. Barbados and. close TO the South
American mainland, the island of Trim
idad.
Special attention has been directed
to these islands recently, owing to ne
gotiations for the transfer of the Pan
ish possessions TO the American flag,
, which have Just been completed.
St. Kits, a volcanic island Of great
beauty. is one of the Oldest British
, possessions in the West Indies, and rs
noted for the skill displayed by its
negro boatmen in handling the small
but wonderfully seaworthy surf boats.
! Mount Misery, a forest-clad eminence
! $500 feet high. dominates the whole
island. while Birthstone Hill. known
locally as the Gibraltar Of the West
Indies, is an interesting relic Of by
gene Notifications. 1t is to-day aban-
, doned TO swarms of wild monkeys,
, which are sometimes hunted by VS.
itors interested in such sport"
Shooting in Antigua
One Of the most attractive Of all the
, islands is Antigua, the seat Of govern
ment of the Leeward Islands, whose
principal town. St. Johns, contains
much of interest. including a fine
cathedral. The country is Of gently
nndulating character. very fertile, with
excellent roads. and the wild bird shoot
ing to be obtained inland and on the
coast is exceptionally fine and includes
such varieties as wild duck, plover.
: curlews. pelicans and innumeraDie
, kinds Of sea birds.
, The French island Of Guadalupe. 500
square miles in area, is interesting as
, the spot where, when Columbus landed,
, he discovered the natives INDUCING IN
menu composed largely of human be-
, ings prepared in various toothsome
, ways. To-day, under the enlightened
I rule Of its French inhabitants. while
the island cuisine is equally distinctive
and interesting, IL is OF a somewhat
more orthodox character, and a visit
, ashore is TO be recommended for the
, charming peep into French tropical me
, i affords.
To the southwark of Guadalupe lies
. Dominica. whose mountain and val
ley scenery is unique. Its forests o.
. tree fern and wild flowers are superb
. / .-. -. 4arod a1difiorallU attractive