ST. AUGUSTIN TO BAHAMA ISLANDS 259 



of the island ; the channel between, perhaps half a 

 mile wide, is navigable for boats. 



Abaco is the northernmost of all the Bahama is- 

 lands, of considerable length but of small breadth. 

 To the north of this island there are various groups, 

 in part small islands uninhabitable for lack of water, 

 partly mere rocks more or less emergent from the 

 water. Rocks of this character are in the West Indies 

 called Keys, and have besides distinguishing names, 

 as Man of War Keys, Guiana Keys &c. They are a 

 terror to sea-men. Abaco until recently had no in- 

 habitants ; but now there are settled there many 

 families of North American refugies, who have made 

 a beginning of two little towns, Carleton and Marsh's 

 Harbour. The island is fertile and it is hoped its new 

 residents will do well there, once they have gone 

 through with the hardships exacted in clearing and 

 preparing wild land. They have given them pro- 

 visions and other necessaries to supply them at first. 

 The numbers of fish swimming all about them are 

 alone sufficient to feed them, whenever they are ready 

 to engage in the catch. 



Towards evening we lost sight of Abaco and after 

 3 hours came to Egg Island. It is small and unin- 

 habited, surrounded by reefs. Divers water-fowl, but 

 especially the Booby, haunt it in indescribable num- 

 bers ; their eggs make good food and are industriously 

 fetched thence. Before night we had come within 6 

 miles of Providence, and the next morning (the 6th of 

 April) passed without mishap the Bar which lies at 

 the entrance of the harbor, and cast anchor close in to 

 the town. Here also passage into the harbor is not 

 the most agreeable ; a chain of black, rugged, pointed 



