CHAPTER VIL 



The Soothing Languid Air and its Consequences. Ambition Dies. The 

 Bahamas not Included in the Primal Curse. The Island of Indolence. 

 Soothed Sharks. Lazy Air and Blood Putting Insect Plagues to Sleep. 

 Mice and Men alike Affected. A Large Fish Story. Sea Turtles Besigiied to 

 their Fate. Negroes Contented and Happy. Good Order in Nassau. How 

 a Millenium can be Secured. Agricultural and Manufacturing Industry not 

 Booted in the Bocks. Sugar Making. Small Islands Unfavorable to Intellect- 

 ual Development. 



"Not poppy, nor mandragora, 

 Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world 

 Shall ever medicine thee to such sweet sleep." — Shakespeaee. 



The Bahama air is very soothing, and soon makes itself felt 

 upon nerves that are sensitive, disordered or unstrung. It en- 

 ervates like an o]:)iute, and the newly arrived stranger soon suc- 

 cumbs to its influence. It is difficult to do anything in the 

 warm and languid air, when not overcome by sleep, but muse 

 and dream. It is very entertaining to observe the new comers 

 from the states when a passenger steamer arrives. They step so 

 quick, and talk so fast, and inquire so earnestly, and commence 

 so soon to crowd an immense amount of walking, riding and 

 sailing into a single day, economising time, and drawing upon 

 their capital of latent strength and vitality as though in vigor 

 and endurance they were millionaires. The amount of sight- 

 seeing they accomplish in two or three days is astonishing. But 

 in less than a week the warm air takes all the frost out of them, 

 and wilted, languid and limpsy, they loll, and lounge and loaf 



113 



