262 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



of this instrument greatly for the dance. Their 

 melodies are almost always the same, with little varia- 

 tion. The dancers, the musicians, and often even the 

 spectators, sing alternately. Their national dances 

 consist of wonderful leaps and a riotous bending and 

 twisting of the body. 



The harbor of Providence is formed and protected 

 by a small island, called Hog Island, lying to the north. 

 There are thus two approaches to the harbor, one to 

 the east, and the other to the west; these are used by 

 ships according to the quarter whence they come or the 

 direction in which they are going. 



The capital of the island of Providence, and at the 

 same time of all the other Bahama islands, is the little 

 town of Nassau, which hugs the hilly shore. The 

 houses are of wood, all lightly built and of simple con- 

 struction ; according to the needs of the climate here, 

 attention has been given only to roof, shade, space, and 

 air. No chimneys are to be seen, and but few glass- 

 windows. The houses stand apart, surrounded by 

 trees, hedges, and gardens. Most of the houses have 

 besides the frame merely a plain covering of boards; 

 the best are boarded double, but even then the cover- 

 ing is light, and are tastefully decorated within. Any 

 of our light European summer-houses would serve as 

 a comfortable dwelling in Providence at all seasons. 

 There is but one tolerably regular street, or line of 

 houses, which runs next the water. At the eastern end 

 of the town there stands a square Fort, walled, of 

 which at this time a detachment of the 37th Regiment 

 forms the garrison. This covers the entrance to the 

 harbor on this side ; as does the small Fort Montagu, 

 two miles from the town, the eastern entrance. 



