160 I8LE8 OF SUMMEE. 



seems ever freighted with sensuous pleasures, and never stimulates 

 to heroic deeds, or to labors and duties which in colder latitudes 

 characterize all forms of life outside of the vegetable kingdom. 

 We were therefore predisposed to respond favorably to the propo- 

 sition of Sampson, when, upon the morning of the 20th of March, 

 1879, the day the equinoctial storm arrives at the north, if it is 

 on time, he pro])osed that, as the wind was more lively than 

 usual, a few gentlemen should put the Triton to the tost as an 

 ocean boat by going outside the bar. lie is always a ready and 

 fluent speaker, but on this occasion ho seemed to have more and 

 better wind than usual to fill the capacious sails of his eloquence. 

 Like his great namesake, of biblical fame and memory, he accom- 

 plishes great results with a "jaw-bone.'' 



"I don't want no ladies dis iinio,"' said he, " there's a leetle 

 too much wind to take der ladies along. I jess want to shake all 

 der reefs out of der Triton's sails and let her go. I'd like for 

 once to show der gemmon what der Triton ken do." 



Half an hour afterwards two gentlemen and the author were 

 seated in Sampson's boat, and flying down the harbor of Xassau 

 under full sail. Amos, from Harbour Island, a colored man of 

 much nautical experience in Bahama waters, and of more than 

 average ability, was greatly complimented by the captain, because, 

 without waiting to be told, he went quietly to work and prepared 

 the yacht before crossing the bar for the Avashings he evidently 

 anticipated she was destined to get. He lashed to the boat the 

 anchor and the oars, put carpets and cushions away in the little 

 forecastle, made fast every coil of rope, got ready for immediate 

 use the large sponges which are here employed to keep boats dry, 

 and brought out for the use of the passengers oil-cloth suits, more 

 useful than ornamental, and sufficiently capacious to keep the 

 salt water on the outside of a man in case the ill-mannered waves, 

 presuming too much on our very limited acquaintance, should 



