CHAPTER 11. 



A Break-icater of Idands, Rocks, Reefs and Banks over 2,000 miles long. 

 The Baliama Archipelago. The Gulfs, Sounds and Shijy CJiannels that pene- 

 trate and surround the Group. Modern Science discovering Hidden Chapters 

 of the Earth's History. Monuments of Buried Lands. Ocean Thorough- 

 fares. The Bermudas — their Gradual Subsidence. 



"We sailed the sea, thick sown with clustering isles." — Virgil. 

 "These precious stones set in a silver sea." — Shakkspkakk. 



Having determined to visit the Bahamas, the author com- 

 menced immediately to brush away the dust which had during 

 a number (please excuse him from not specifying more particu- 

 larly how many) of decades of years, covered and obliterated the 

 geographical knowledge of his school-boy days. Learning is like 

 wealth — not to have it is less discreditable than unfounded pre- 

 tensions. His life would have been worth but very little had it 

 then depended upon his ability to accurately locate and particu- 

 larly describe Nassau and the island of New Providence, or the 

 group of which that island forms a part. Is it too much for him 

 to assume that his ignorance was not exceptional, and that nearly 

 all of his readers can truthfully make a similar confession ? Let 

 the favored few who occupy the geographical front seats excuse 

 the author, and grant him their kind indulgence, while, for the 

 benefit of others, he airs a little his recently resurrected, and, to 

 some extent, newly acquired geographical knowledge. 



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