THE GULF AVEED. 169 



nation," would be increased if he recollected the theory — not 

 altogether impossible, that this sargasso (and possibly some of 

 the animals which cling to it), marks the sight of an Atlantic 

 continent sunk long ages since; and that, transformed by the 

 necessities of life from a rooting to a floating plant, 



"Still it remembers its august abodes," 



and wanders 'round and 'round as if in search of the rocks where 

 it once grew." 



''When fresh out of the water it resembles not a sea weed so 

 much as a sprig of a willow leaved shrub, burdened with yellow 

 berries, large and small; for every broken bit of it seems growing 

 and throwing out ever new berries and leaves — or what for want 

 of a better word, must be called leaves in a sea weed. For it 

 must be remembered that the frond of a seaweed is not merely 

 leaf, but root also; that it not ouly breathes air, but feeds on 

 water; and that even the so-called root by which a seaweed holds 

 to the rock is really only an anchor, holding mechanically to the 

 stone, but not deriving, as the root of a land plant would, any 

 nourishment from it, therefore it is that to grow while uprooted 

 and floating, though impossible to most land plants, is easy 

 enough to many seaweeds, and especially to the sargasso." 



The expense of yachting at Nassau is generally apportioned 

 per capita, and the charges of the boatmen are quite moderate, 

 so that a great deal of enjoyment is thereby secured for a very 

 little money. Although there is a good circulation of air on 

 shore, the change to that of the harbor is, when the hot sun is 

 well up, a decided improvement, and outside of the barrier keys 

 the wind over the ocean seemed more strongly medicated and 

 tonic. For sanitary reasons, therefore, we would strongly rec- 

 ommend Nassau visitors to spend a portion of each pleasant day 



15 



