2 ALLEN AND IJAimorU 



persons who conteinidate a \ isit to tlie Haliainas in siiiniiier to make 

 sure of an awning for the deck and an ade<|uate siij»jily of mosquito 

 netting. Oils of citronella and pennyroyal mixed in e(|ual i)arts 

 will also he found very useful in hel])ing to keep off the gnats, 

 stinging tlies. and mosquitoes, which are excessively ahuiidant in 

 some localities. 



Our crew consisted of captain, mate, cook, and three ordinary sea- 

 men, with sevei'al extra men picke<l up along our route as occasion 

 re<piire<l. It is wise to have on hoard rather more men than are 

 likely to he needed as j)hysically they are far from strong. This 

 ajjplies especially to the white inhahitants of Ahaco; for a diet of 

 fruit, salt meat, and I'ice has left them poor workers even when they 

 are ai'oused from their tropical lethargy. It is possible that in nuiny 

 respects a negro crew would he more useful. 



A few words as regards food are not out of place in this connec- 

 tion. .Manufactured ice, which may he obtained at Nassau for a 

 reasonable |trice, .^(/ ))er lb., can be kept a long time if packed in 

 large chunks with a liberal (piantity of barley shucks, (iood rain 

 water may be obtaine<I at Nassau. One should l)e careful not to 

 rely on the various " wells," really holes in the ground where the 

 sui-face water collects, for the water from these has a most unpleas- 

 ant taste and is teeming with aniuuil lite, much of it (piite visible to 

 the nake<l eye. We found lime juice a most pleasant a<l<lition to 

 the water and always used it. Limes may be obtained at most of 

 the settlements for \^<l |>er liuiidre<l. I'^resh meat cannot be kept 

 even if it is obtainable. The native beef and mutton are vile and 

 nothing else can be obtainetl in summer. On the other hand, the 

 fish which abound about all tlie reefs and in the channels are very 

 good indeeil. We might mention especially the grouper, the various 

 snappers ami grunts, and turtle meat which can usually be hail in 

 Nassau. Sonu' of the lishes are poisonous, 'i'he barracuda, parrot 

 fishes, and the and»er-jacks in some places are said to ha\e a very 

 bitter taste and to cause severe sickness. A gocul general rule is to 

 avoid the luight, showy fishes, although I'xceptions may often be 

 nuide. In Nassau canned goods may lie obtained but in cjualitv 

 they are far inferior to those which might be brought from the 

 North. 



After ]>r()visi(»ning our craft and getting our ajiparal\is safelv 

 8towe<l, we set sail at ;"> p. m., of July 2, for Ilupetown, Elbow ("ay. 



