A wixTEi; \ isrr to the haiia.ma islands. 229 



or ehowdtM-; the bine fisli, true to its name, of a bright ultramarine 

 blue, with pink spots about its head, as it swims deep down in the 

 water, seems to have a halo of color all about it and declines your 

 most insinuating piscatory art. The trumpet fish, angel fish, 

 mutton fish, parrot fish, swell fish, and a multitude of others of 

 which there is neither time nor opportunity to learn the names, of 

 all colors, shapes, and sizes swim lazily beneath you or sport among 

 the mazes of marine plants with which the floor of the sea is 

 covered. These days seemed like one continuous dream, so strange, 

 so varied and unreal were all of our experiences both in the air and 

 water. 



As we leave these isles of summer the conclusion is inevitably 

 forced upon us that the practical hand which is now directing their 

 concerns will at no distant day secure for them a good and increas- 

 ing measure of prosperity, which feeling seems also to impress the- 

 reflecting business men of the colony ; that the native negro popu- 

 lation possesses the same desires for accumulation that distinguish 

 the most favored people of the world, and that when the way is 

 shown them to utilize their industry they will eagerly pursue it ; 

 that the}'^ are as sober, orderly, and peaceable as those in other com- 

 munities will average, not excepting the new New England ; that the 

 native white population are intelligent, courteous, and as enterpris- 

 ing as we could expect from their surroundings. They realize fully 

 today that the flush times of blockade running during the American 

 Civil War, were but, a delirium of prodigality which has been 

 followed by years of exhaustion and prostration. There seem to 

 be better and more prosperous days at hand, which, let us. hopa 

 will be more substantial and enduring. 



Col. Wilson's lecture was illustrated by a large number of photo- 

 graphs, some of which, through the kindness of Mr. James H. 

 Stark, in whose companj' Col. Wilson's journey was made, and 

 who has freely given to the Society the use of the plates from his 

 recent Avork on the Bahamas, are reproduced here, and also by 

 specimens of the Sisal hemp. The lecture was received with 

 applause, and at the close a vote of thanks to him was unanimously 

 passed. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Committee on 

 Publication and Discussion for the exceedingly interesting series 

 of meetings which they had provided, of which this was the last. 



