62 ISLES OV SUMMER. 



taries, in addition to a Governor and lords temporal enough to 

 stock a great empire, isn't it about time for the people of the 

 states to wake up and do something? Haven't we all the materials 

 necessary for the manufacture of whole regiments of "lords 

 temporal" and '^Fathers in God," and why shouldn't we have 

 our share? 



Nassau harbor is about one and one-half miles long, and two- 

 fifths of a mile wide. Potter's Key runs mid-way down the har- 

 bor from the east, and separates the eastern half into two parts. 

 The quays and landing j)laces are on the south side of the 

 harbor, opposite the east end of Hog Island. The shipping 

 occupy the south side of the channel, Avhich is separated from 

 the north side by a bank liaving fifteen feet of water. The 

 ordinary tides rise from two to three feet. It is not generally 

 practicable for vessels to enter tlie harl)or from the cast which 

 draw over nine feet of Avatcr. 



Old wrecks and storm-worn and condemned vessels aljound, 

 and suggest to a stranger Nassau's im]iortancc as a seaport. Her 

 back door is open only to small vessels, while her front door is 

 barred. 



That the bar at the main entrance to Nassau harbor is often 

 a very serious obstruction to navigation, is evident from the fact 

 that the authorities have established the following bar signals: 



" If the harl)or is approached with a northerly wind, and tliere 

 is an uncertainty as to tlie state of tlie bar, should it be danger- 

 ous to cross, a red flag will be hoisted on the signal staff near the 

 lighthouse. * * Should it be possible, but too dangerous to 

 get out, a white flag will be hoisted, and the pilot-boat will be 

 seen in waiting just within the breakers, showing a flag red and 

 Avhite horizontally," &c. 



The Governor in his report for 1878, stated that in September 

 of that year, for six successive days, no vessel was able to cross 



