302 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



certain places, of the extent of one or more acres of 

 land, quite clear of rocks and showing good, black, 

 rich earth. Although similar but smaller spots are to 

 be here and there found, no use can be made of them, 

 because they He everywhere in the lowest situations 

 with no outlet, and none possible, for the rain-water 

 which accumulates in them. Otherwise such places 

 would be of endless value. On Hog Island these spots 

 are useless besides, because of the land-crabs which 

 destroy the roots of everything planted there by way 

 of experiment. 



Salt is made on a few of the small outer islands, by 

 evaporation of the sea-water in open pits. Why this is 

 not done more, is a question. The greatest part of 

 North America is supplied with salt from Turks and 

 other small West India islands. It is a tradition here- 

 abouts that it never rains over the salt-pits, a few 

 even go so far as to pretend that a rain-cloud divides 

 when it passes over salt-pits. 



The winds of this region blow from March to Sep- 

 tember almost continually from the East, and are in 

 general, from the same causes as the Trade-wind, 

 fixed between the Tropicks, however the nearness of 

 the continent gives occasion now and then for brief 

 interruptions on the part of the West wind. Then 

 there are light South winds with alternating calms, 

 during which the greatest heat is felt. During the 

 winter months the winds are changeable from all 

 directions. The rainy season falls in May, June, and 

 July. The last of April and in May of this year the 

 leaves hung wilted and dry on the trees, from long 

 drought. There is seldom any dew at night. The 

 Bahama islands are not, as is often asserted, outside 



