FORT CHARLOTTE. 57 



wai', and no ambition to take possession of it for and in the name 

 of the Great Republic, although, if somewhat reduced in size, 

 and safely floated over the ocean, it might add a pleasing interest 

 to some great American Museum or Inter-national Exposition. 

 We were well satisfied to enter it as willing captives of British 

 and Bahama hospitality. 



To our civilian eyes its armament did not appear formidable. 

 Its old and rusty ordinance seemed little better than Quaker guns. 

 Ko doubt, however, they exert as salutary a moral influence upon 

 Nassau's suburban colored inhabitants as would the best rifled 

 and breech-loading peacemakers of modern times. 



To us the fort had a special value by reason of the extensive 

 and picturesque views it affords. In front, and far away to the 

 right and left, were the strings of beaded keys with which the 

 shores of New Providence are exquisitely jewelled. Numberless 

 I'ocks and reefs, lying in ambush in the shallows of the sea, were 

 revealed by the white, foaming breakers that dashed over them. 

 The iris colored and ribboned Avaters, with their settings of islands 

 and keys, constituted a lovely sun embroidered border for the 

 (lark, deep blue dress of the ocean, which, in wide and waving 

 folds, brushed against the sky. Turning to the opposite side, the 

 contrast was most striking. The hill upon which we stood. 

 Prospect Hill to the right, and the Blue Hills in the distance, 

 are densely wooded banks and water sheds of a Ioav, wet wilder- 

 ness. We were very near to a colonial capital in which we had 

 witnessed, in rather a small way, .something of the pride and 

 pomp and glory of this world. From our commanding positions 

 we Avere al)lc to observe its " back country," and to see no small 

 portion of the island, yet we looked in vain for green pastures 

 and flowery meads, for villages and farm houses, for orchards 

 and gardens. The glassy surface of a small, salt and «iia]low 

 lake alone broke the continuity of the low, thick, im])cnctrable 



