AGASSIZ : BAHAMAS. 



65 



tories forming the southern edge of tlie harbor and the northern boun- 

 dary of Cheroki Sound, while tlie promontory of Sweeting protects the 

 northern side of Little Harbor. At Marsh Harbor settlement and at 

 Black Point, both on Great Abaco, promontories nearly two miles in 

 length are left as monuments of the former eastern extensions and 

 connections of Abaco with the outer cays. In fact, very little more 

 wearing away would separate the promontories forming Little Harbor 

 from Abaco, and turn them into cays similar to the outer line, leaving 

 perhaps at the same time a second inner row of cays like those now in 

 formation off so many parts of the eastern shore of Abaco, traces of which 

 farther north are seen in the numerous banks of all sizes and shapes 

 which exist both to the westward and to the eastward of the outer cays, 

 being parallel to them in a general way. 



Great Abaco Island. 



Plate X. Fig. 1 ; Plate XL.. 



We made the lighthouse on Abaco Island at Hole in the Wall, the 

 southern extremity of the Little Bahama Bank. That part of Abaco is 

 low, with rounded outlines (Plate XL.). The rocky surface is bare, all 

 that part of the island being exposed to the full action of the prevailing 

 trade winds and swell. In consequence the shore is formed of low cliffs, 

 having the peculiar basaltic appearance so characteristic of the darker 

 limestone cliffs of the Bahamas. The surface of the island within reach 

 of the action of the sea is pitted, honeycombed, and full of pot-holes. 

 This is specially seen on the east face of the Lighthouse Hill and the 

 spit to the south of it. 



A well marked narrow rocky promontory, covered near the shore by 

 pinnacles, runs out from the southern end of the island, at the extrem- 

 ity of which are situated two islets undermined at the base. Near the 



HOLE IN THE WALL. 



extremity of this narrow promontory the sea has broken through and 

 formed a large hole, which has given to the locality its name of Hole 

 in the Wall. The outlying islands have perhaps been formed in part by 



VOL XXVI. 



NO 1. 



