UNDER SEA WITH HELMET AND CAMERA 



We proceeded to the inland extremity of the village. The children con- 

 tinued with us and struck up a sort of marching song. My daughters sensed 

 a chance for additional entertainment and asked them if they liked to 

 dance. They said something about a "fire dance," indicating that they 

 made quite a ceremonial of dancing. Lydia asked them if they would dance 

 for us should we come ashore again after supper. The older girl spoke up 

 immediately, "No, Miss, we couldn't dance for you 'cause this is Lent." 

 Later I was sorry that we missed this fire dance because I learned that it 

 has a most interesting character. The negroes on Andros have lived there 

 for many generations and have had little contact with the outside world. 

 It has been concluded by travelers studying the island from an ethnologi- 

 cal standpoint that this dance is undoubtedly a reHc of their African fore- 

 bears. 



We proceeded up a short flight of steps to some higher ground and 

 found a small area where some of the soil was cultivated. It was pathetic. 

 Some corn was scattered about, no attempt having been made to plant in 

 rows. Some vegetables appeared here and there, but all that we could see 

 would hardly feed one family. The soil, what there was of it, looked fertile 

 but very shallow and the coral-rock formation of the island protruded 

 through it in many places. Beyond this cultivated area, we came upon an 

 impenetrable thicket and could go no farther. There were no trees over 

 twelve feet high, and very few of those. I believe that the greater portion 

 of the island is covered with this growth, although the Southern end of it 

 contains some timber. Exploration of the island by aerial photography 

 might be interesting. Large plantations on the island have been referred 

 to by early writers. 



When we returned to the stairway, we had an encounter which left an 

 unpleasant impression. A white man was waiting there with the evident 

 intention of entering into conversation with us, so we stopped. His man- 

 ner and speech showed unmistakable signs of culture. He said that he had 



DO 



