MO CUBA AND PORTO EICO 



association with the first landfall of Columbus, their former 

 relation with the American colonics, and the part they 

 played as a place of refuge for the Tory emigrants during 

 our War of Independence. The aborigines were hunted 

 and enslaved during the first century of Spanish conquest, 

 being especially desired for the pearl-fisheries of Panama, 

 on account of their superior skill as divers. The archi- 

 I m -lago was neglected for over a century, but when the coast 

 of Carolina was colonized the islands were regarded as its 

 natural dependency, and later became the home of adven- 

 turers of all sorts, who lived by wrecking and bucaneering, 

 making New Providence their capital. 



The islands were permanently occupied by British troops 

 for the first time in 1718, and since then have been under 

 the flag of Great Britain. The government, with its seat 

 at Nassau, consists of a governor and executive council; 

 there is also a legislative council presided over by the 

 governor, and a representative assembly of twenty-nine 

 members elected by suffrage. So far as law, order, and 

 educational opportunities are concerned, the administra- 

 tion has the usual excellence of British colonial govern- 

 ment, but likewise accompanied by high taxation and 

 expenditure. The revenues of 1895 amounted to $296,067, 

 and the expenditures to $295,022.50. 



Industrially and commercially the Bahamas are in straits. 

 The soil is not rich, but is suitable for the cultivation of 

 small fruits, vegetables, pineapples, oranges, and cocoanuts. 

 Their only market, the United States, is embargoed by our 

 tariff laws. The government has tried to encourage the 

 cultivation of the sisal-fiber plant ; the shipments have as 

 yet been small, however, as the plantations are now only 

 reaching the productive stage. Abaco is the chief center 

 of the industry. Except in the Caicos and Turks groups, 

 where salt is found, most of the inhabitants earn their liv- 

 ing from the products of the sea, such as sponges, turtles, 

 shells, pearls, ambergris, and wreckage. Sponge-fishing is 

 extensively carried on, employing many people, although 



