WONDERS OF THE DEEP 35 



case, is the only place of safety. Some of the 

 youngsters are clever enough to catch the coin as 

 it sinks through the water. Most of the natives, 

 as will have been gathered, are as much at home 

 in the water as they are on the land. A few of 

 the more daring of these young divers can stay 

 below the surface of the water for a space of three 

 minutes! In time, however, this practice tells upon 

 their health, for the constant retention in the lungs 

 of air mixed with water gives rise, when they 

 grow older, to serious bronchial trouble. 



Probably the greatest attraction of Nassau is 

 the beautiful Marine Gardens, exhibiting an extra- 

 ordinarily wonderful development of marine 

 organisms. The colours of the flora and the fauna 

 are absolutely beyond description, and the kaleido- 

 scopic masses of vivid purples, blues, reds, greens, 

 and yellows are simply bewildering. 



One who was for several years a resident at 

 Nassau gives the following picturesque account of 

 Nassau's natural Marine Gardens: "These Marine 

 Gardens are made up of the most exquisite sub- 

 merged coral bowers and grottoes, rivalling the 

 choicest productions of the vegetable world in form 

 and colour. One can hardly believe one's eyes 

 when all their unexpected beauties are revealed for 

 the first time. The madrepora, or branching coral, 

 is very abundant, as are also the astraea, or brain 

 coral, alcyonoid polyps (delicate coral shrubs), and 

 algiE, all of which are of fairy form and attractive 

 in colour. Gorgoaias and sea-fans, much diversified 



