THE BAHAMAS 301 



its total product does not aggregate more than $300,000 a 

 year. 



The total exports amounted to $809,733 in L896. The 

 imports from the United Kingdom were $181,608, and from 

 the United States $635,113, out of a total of $819,760. So 

 far as commerce goes the Bahamas are an American pos- 

 session, for we take all that they produce and sell to them 

 most of what they consume. 



The Bahamas have regular mail connection with X<\v 

 York and Florida, and in the winter season steamers 

 run to Palm Beach. A subsidized steamer conveys pas- 

 sengers among the different islands. Scrutton's line runs 

 directly to London. Nearly all the people own small sail- 

 ing-vessels which ply between the islands. There is cable 

 connection between Nassau and Florida, and Nassau and 

 the Bermudas, and thence to Halifax. 



The population of the Bahamas is a decadent one ; there 

 is neither immigration nor inducement for immigration, 

 except for those who wish to enjoy the salubrity of the 

 climate. Only thirty-one of the islands were inhabited in 

 1890, with a total population of fifty-four thousand. The 

 people, though not in distress, are all poor in worldly goods. 

 The whites are few in number, and are not noted for their 

 industry. Most of the Bahama people are negroes, de- 

 scendants of former slaves, and these are of many peculiar 

 types and kinds. The isolation of each island has pre- 

 served or produced distinct characteristics. Powles has 

 said thai these "conchs," as the}* are called, appear still to 

 be divided into various groups which retain the tribal 

 peculiarities of their African descent, each tribe annually 

 electing its own queen and recognizing Iter authority. 

 Furthermore, they vary in language according t< that of 

 tic masters who Introduced them. Most of them speak 



English; some have a decided Scotch dialect, while it is 



alleged that upon one key the [rish dialed prevails. Some 

 of these negroes, notably the Fortune [slanders, are excel- 

 lent sailors, and are eagerly sought by the American 



