420 HISTORY 



in the records. None of those of the former, and only an incomplete file of 

 the latter, for the period before 1829, are to be found in the archives of the 

 Bahama government, although they are nearly complete after that time. The 

 Governors' despatches are lacking also for more than a year in the period of 

 the apprenticeship system. 1 



The author wishes to acknowledge the kindness of His Excellency, Sir 

 Gilbert T. Carter, the former Governor of the Bahamas, of his Secretary, Mr. 

 H. S. Gladstone, of Mr. S. H. 0. Clutsam, custodian of the records of the 

 House of Assembly, and of other officials of the government, in granting him 

 access to the public archives, and in furnishing him information that could not 

 be gained from the records. Acknowledgments are also due to Professors John 

 M. Vincent and W. W. Willoughby and Dr. J. C. Ballagh, of the Johns Hop- 

 kins University, for counsel and criticism in the prosecution of this stud}'. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE BAHAMAS PRIOR TO THE NINETEENTH 



CENTURY. 



The landfall of Columbus on his first voyage to America was one of the 

 Bahama Islands. The question as to whether it was the present San Salvador 

 or Watlings Island on which he first set foot is still a matter of controversy, 

 and from evidence that has been brought to light it would seem that the dis- 

 pute can never be definitely settled. 2 But this coincidence, interesting though 

 it is, influenced little the later history of the Bahamas. At the time of the 

 discovery the Islands were inhabited by Indians who received the name 



1 The chief sources used in writing this were: 



Votes of the House of Assembly. 



Votes of the Council (on the Legislative side). 



Despatches of Governors to Secretaries of State for the Colonies. 



(1829-1849). 



Despatches of Secretaries of State to the Governors. (1815-1849). 

 Miscellaneous Letters of Governors. (1838-1851). 

 Royal Gazette (Newspaper published at Nassau). 

 Session Papers of Parliament. 



Relating to Slavery and Abolition, 1831-2, 46; 191, ff, and 297, ff; 



loc. cit., 20, questions No. 2811 to 2863; also 1836, 49 and pp. 



502-547. 

 Relating to Land System and Apprenticeship, 1839, 35, 143, pp. 1-42; 



loc. cit., 37, 487, pp. 1-20. 

 Annual Register. 

 Bahama Statutes. 



2 See discussion of this question by Fox in an article entitled " Attempt to 

 Solve the Problem of the First Landing Place of Columbus in the New World," in 

 U. 8. Coast & Geodetic Survey Repts., 1880, pp. 346-411. 



