JlPtftOArH to K-ASSATT. 29 



tlie east coast of Florida below Jacksonville for some twenty- 

 eiglit hours before we turned near Jupiter Light to enter and 

 cross it. 



One cannot understand the phrase ''A wilderness of waters" 

 until he actually sails day after day Avith nothing in view but 

 the deep below and tlie deep above. On the second day out 

 from Jacksonville we first sighted, off our starboard quarter, a 

 faint trace of curling smoke in the distance, and soon, after 

 crossing our bow, a Ilavanna steamer exchanged flag salutations 

 Avitli the Secret. 



The character and disposition of people are often strikingly 

 displayed on shipboard. .Some are so kind, so considerate, so 

 mindful of their fellow-voyagers, so forgetful of themselves. 

 Otliers seem to believe that the world, and all that it contains 

 that is worth having, was made expressly for themselves. They 

 seem lineally descended from the man v,iiose only prayer to God 

 was that He would 



'* Bless me and my wife, 

 My son Jolin und liis wife, 

 Us four — and no more!" 



And also to 1)e very nearly related to the individual wlio owned 

 one-lialf of a negro, and wlu) was accustomed to request the di- 

 vine blessing for "myself, my wife, and my half of Jake." 



A novel siglit prescnlcd ifself as we approached tlie ship's 

 dock at Nassau. The pci-fectly clear and ti-ansparent water, ex- 

 quisitely and indescribably colored ; I he old, weather-worn vessels 

 at anchor; tbe forts and sea-walls; the uiiite streets and white 

 stone buildings, all of coral limestone, coiitraslcd oddly witli the 

 crowds of persons, mostly colored, that lilled all the docks, 

 streets and standing places at and near the landing. We were 



