BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 107 
times, while cruising among the 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 varied 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- 
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