CHAPTER III 
PELICAN ISLAND 
My son, Willis, met us at the landing, very imposing and 
business-like in his white suit and helmet, having been detailed 
by Fisher to receive us and attend to the landing of our effects. 
Mr. James Sanderson, Clerk of the Board of Health, and imme- 
diately in charge of the island, was also there and remained in 
the hot sun at the landing until he personally saw to it that we 
were safely housed and our property checked off and accounted 
for according to our lists. During our entire stay this gentle- 
man charged himself with our comfort and made certain that 
everything went smoothly in our domestic economy. On this 
first day he had secured the services of a Corporal of Police to 
see to it that we were not interfered with in any way and to 
make himself generally useful. 
We were delighted with our quarters, and could not have de- 
vised more convenient and adequate accommodations for our 
expedition had we been given carte blanche. The island is the 
only one off the coast of Barbados, and is situated directly op- 
posite the suburbs of Bridgetown, from which it is separated 
by a channel about a quarter of a mile wide. It is encircled by 
a sea-wall of masonry of very substantial construction, as there 
is often a considerable surf—both on the seaward side and in the 
channel. There are two small docks or landings with steps lead- 
ing down to the water. One of these was used by passengers to 
and from the mainland, and the other faced a little cove where 
boats from the sea could come alongside. 
During our stay, a boat and boatman were constantly at our 
command to ferry us to and from Bridgetown. A bell was 
placed on the dock first mentioned, and was used to summon 
the ferryman whenever his services were needed. This boat 
was a heavy one, propelled by ‘‘poling’’ it along with an oar. 
The landing required considerable skill, as the waves careered 
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