CRUISE OF 1939 



bathing, dining and calling on friends. 



Next morning, we shopped and took photographs along the market 

 dock. This to me is always a place of extreme interest. A wharf extending 

 about two city blocks is occupied by a multitude of small boats from the 

 out-islands. These are docked stern-to and almost touching one another 

 for the whole extent of the wharf. Nearly all of them are sloop rig, but a 

 few schooners are to be seen. Thirty feet is perhaps the length of these 

 little boats. Often whole families are found living aboard, some with dogs 

 and even a pig. They are all negroes. Their cargoes consist of dried conchs, 

 crawfish, potatoes, sponges, firewood, and grasses to make hats with. 

 There is a good demand for these hats on the part of people landing from 

 cruise boats. Cooking is done on deck where they have some pieces of iron 

 to retain a bed of sand. On this, they build a wood fire over which a pot is 

 swung and pieces of sheet iron are adjusted to act as wind-shields. Some- 

 times, an iron keg with holes punched in it is used as a fire-box. Below deck, 

 apparently there are two compartments, one for the cargo and one for 

 the crew and passengers. I have never asked permission to make an inspec- 

 tion. The number of people on one tiny boat is astonishing. For example, 

 four men, two women, an infant, and four children— and they all sleep 

 below. At a fairly early hour, they may be seen emerging from the com- 

 panionways like ants from a hole. A young negro, who came from Acklin 

 Island, told me that the journey required about two weeks. They occa- 

 sionally went in close to land; then all hands would swim or wade ashore 

 where they spent hours lying in the sun and drying their clothing. The 

 owners of these boats usually cannot afford to buy a compass; conse- 

 quently, they navigate like the mariners of ancient times— by sun, wind, 

 and stars. 



All of my cruises were made in the months of March and April, a time 

 when steady winds and fair weather prevail. The wind blows with little 

 variation in direction; therefore, it can be used as a means for finding 



