ISLAND SOLITUDES, SEA-BATHIXG IN WINTER. 207 



after day, the expected steamer fails to arrive, and he looks a 

 hundred times in vain for the signal of her approach upon the 

 flag-staff at Fort Fincastle, he must not allow himself to think 

 even of the possibility that she has foundered at sea, or has been 

 wrecked on some of the dangerous rocks or reefs or shores that 

 have made the Bahamas so noted in the past. He must not in- 

 dulge in speculations upon the probable results of such a misfor- 

 tune, nor strive to find out how long it will be before the outside 

 world will hear of the disaster and make provision for his return 

 to the living busy world from which he is separated. If he has 

 a sick relative in charge, he must not undertake to solve the con- 

 undrum what he ought to do in case the sickness assumes a very 

 dangerous form, and how he will manage in case of death. But, 

 on the other hand, by all means let him feast and fill his soul 

 with the sensuous, ambrosial delights that surround him, thank 

 God for the clear, blue skies, the mild uniform temperature, 

 the soft and balmy airs, the tranquil and beautiful seas, the 

 strange, wonderful fauna of the emerald water, the picturesque 

 islets and keys, and the new and most charming vegetable world 

 that is ever spread out in unfading boauty before him; let him 

 enjoy the present, trust in the future, and in a Divine Providence 

 that wisely directs, rules and overrules witli unerring wisdom 

 and unflagging benevolence, and leave to fools and madmen the 

 bad business of distilling, like wasps and hornets in flower gar- 

 dens, poisons from present joys. 



While considering Xassau's advantages as a health resort in 

 winter, we ought not to omit to mention the facilities which it 

 offers for sea bathing. In this particular nature has done for it 

 all that could be reasonably asked or desired. She has furnished 

 both air and water of a most agreeable temperature at all seasons 

 of the year, aiid during all the hours of both day and night. 

 No cold currents of either air or water are encountered. The 



