HIsPANIOLA . 67 ; 
away. From the ship the island seemed one mass of 
verdure, which might well serve as a picture for illustrat- 
ing the vegetation of the “moist tropical forests.”” The 
rain poured down in torrents throughout our entire 
stay, with only occasional glimpses of the sun. We 
could see the dark-skinned natives, most of them half 
dressed, with their little children, entirely naked, look- 
ing at us through the rain, from the doors of their thatched 
huts beneath the coconut palms which fringed the shore. 
We felt a certain envy of them, for our oilskins were hot 
and sticky, and we felt sure that if we should take up 
our residence on shore we would revert to the dress of 
our first parents, with perhaps the addition of a little — 
coconut oil for our skin’s sake. The commanding officer 
_ paid an official visit to the local authorities, which | was — of 
_ promptly returned by the governor and his suite. The 
| governor was a pleasant looking piece aa several 
