BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 1 7 



times, while cruising among tlie keys, I have sat gazing into the 

 water, watching the countless varieties of fish which passed beneath 

 us, from the immense shark, whose dull, brown body was just con- 

 cealed beneath the surface, to the silver and angel fishes, which 

 flashed and sparkled like rare gems as they lazily turned themselves 

 in the sunlight or suddenly darted from some snug retreat formed 

 by the beautiful and \aried submarine vegetation, resembling a 

 tropical garden in miniature. 



We landed amongst a crowd of negroes, and, after refusing 

 repeated offers of assistance, made our way to a venerable carriage, 

 drawn by two lean horses, and directed the driver to take us to the 

 hotel. Entering the town, we found the streets of an almost snowy 

 whiteness, which, in the glare of the sun, is very dazzling to the eyes 

 at first, but one soon gets used to it, and after a short time it is not 

 at all troublesome. 



Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas, and is in fact the only 

 place of any size in the whole of the group. It boasts of a fair 

 library and a fine hotel, The Royal Victoria, which is beautifully 

 situated upon a small hill, and commands a fine view of the city 

 and harbor. We were made very comfortable at the Sargent 

 House, kept by Mr. Epes Sargent, and our stay there was made 

 very pleasant by the kindness of himself and wife. 



There are many pleasant drives in the vicinity of Nassau. Forts 



Charlotte, Montague, and Fincastle are all interesting to the tourist, 



and the roads leading to them are, in many places, picturesque and 



beautiful, shaded by groves of palms and cocoanut-trees, and com- 



3 



