36 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



Climbing into the wagon, we were borne slowly along over a smooth 

 road, which wound in and out through a labyrinth of salt-ponds, 

 dotted here and there by small windmills, of a very primitive pattern, 

 which are used in pumping water in and out of the ponds, some- 

 times taking a week to do what a small donkey-engine would accom- 

 plish in a few hours. 



The road was cjuite good, and on the way we had a fine view of 

 the country, which, in some places, extends in an unbroken prairie 

 for miles. In such places, we observed numbers of wild asses. 

 These pretty little creatures stood and gazed timidly at us as we 

 passed, but the moment we made a movement towards them, away 

 they went like the wind. One who has never seen the ass in 

 its wild state, cannot appreciate the grace and beauty of these 

 pretty little animals. Cattle and horses are also abundant on 

 the island, in a wild state, and offer excellent sport. They are 

 descendants of domestic animals, brought to the island many 

 years ago. 



The ride to the lake occupied several hours, and we were 

 continually annoyed by myriads of mosquitoes and other insects. 

 The road was covered by an immense cjuantity of land -crabs, 

 most of them small, which hurriedly ran out of the way as we 

 approached. 



We found the lake, which is some twelve miles in extent, exceed- 

 ingly shallow, rarely exceeding four feet in depth. Far out in the 

 shallow water were several large flocks of Flamingoes, their scarlet 

 plumage blazing brightly in the light of the morning sun. Pelicans 



