REDO NBA AND ITS PHOSPHATES 



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selves before tlie red and yellow blossoms of the cactus, and a 

 little insect-eater, in sober brown witli a ruby patch on its head, 

 searched busily among the plants. 



Several sheep and goats, two dogs, some hens, two peacocks, 

 and a white cat comprised the domestic animals of this Crusoe- 

 like home. From time to time the sheep and goats had become 

 wild and had taken to the almost inaccessible parts of the cliffs 

 and gorges, where it was exciting sport to pursue them. 



After lunch, when the sun had begun to descend toward the 



west. Captain H took us down to the plateau below the house 



to look at the quarters occupied by the workmen. The buildings 

 consisted of two long sheds with close shutters instead of glass 

 windows, and contained for furniture nothing but a tier of bunks, 

 or rather shelves, of rough boards along the walls. Each man 

 furnished his own bedding, which was seldom more than a rude 

 cushion for a pillow. This pillow, together with his other per- 

 sonal belongings, he kept in a box which served him for a trunk. 



Near the buildings were ovens where their baking was done by 

 one of their number who served as cook. Their fare was very 

 simple, consisting of bread and salt beef. The foremen and skilled 

 workmen occupied two smaller houses, but lived in the same man- 

 ner. Water for drinking was obtained by catching the rain on 

 large inclined surfaces of corrugated iron, and collecting it in 

 reservoirs. Such a reservoir was built at each end of the island 

 for the use of the men, and the superintendent's dwelling was pro- 

 vided with capacious tanks connected with the roof. 



"We were on Redonda just at the time of the full moon, and 

 there was something about the beauty of a moonlight night on 

 that rock which can not be put in words. The sea si3arkled with 

 silver gleams as we looked down upon it. Montserrat's rugged 

 outline could be dimly seen, with lights twinkling here and there 

 on its hillsides. Below us the workmen could be heard singing 

 and dancing to the sound of a tambourine. After the hot glare 

 of the daytime everything seemed to be enjoying the delightful 

 coolness of the trade wind. Indeed, so cool was it that it caused 

 me great surprise to find the thermometer registering seventy- 

 eight degrees. 



The second mornitig we descended to the beach by means of 



the tramway, and at Caj^tain H 's suggestion I stood upon 



the edge of the bucket and clung to the trolley. It was exhila- 

 rating to glide swiftly down through space, with the cliffs close 

 beside us and the beach far below, yet it was with a breath of 

 relief that I sprang from the bucket to the ground when we had 

 reached the end of the wire. 



For a distance of about fifty yards the beach had been cleared 

 of bowlders, and room thus secured for two or three small build- 



