26 A. KH. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 438 
Shark’s Hole, nearby, is a large natural archway or tunnel, leading 
far under the cliff, with water in it deep enough for a large boat to 
enter for a considerable distance. Corals, sponges, and seaweeds may 
be seen growing on the bottom in the clear water, and schools of 
large Sea Lawyers or Gray Snappers and other fishes are often to be 
seen swimming among the broken rocks in plain view, but these 
lawyers are too sly and intelligent to be taken with a hook. (Plate 
Ixxili.) 
Near Shark’s Hole the road passes Paynter’s Vale, a very old 
estate, once highly cultivated, but now much neglected. Many 
unusual shrubs and trees grow half wild upon it, including wild 
coffee-trees, citrons, lemons, and many others. In front of the house 
is the first Fiddle-wood tree planted in Bermuda, and it is said to be 
the parent of all the trees of that kind on the islands. It was set 
out about 73 years ago, and is now about 5 feet in diameter. It lost 
some of its larger branches in the hurricane of September, 1899, but is 
still a large tree. This species spreads rapidly, both by its seeds and 
roots, and is now probably the most abundant deciduous tree on the 
island. Its bright green foliage contrasts finely with the dark green 
of the cedar. (Plate Ixx.) 
Not far away, the road passes near the Peniston Cave (plate xcii1), 
which has not yet been opened to the public, and is rather difficult 
to explore. It is, perhaps, the most beautiful cave now known on 
the islands, on account of the great number of stalactites and the 
variety of forms that they have taken, and also because of their 
nearly pure white color. This is due to the fact that in this cave 
torches and bonfires have not been allowed to coat over the sur- 
faces with soot, which has been done to a deplorable extent in many 
of the other caves. This should have been prohibited long ago. 
(See Geology.) 
It belongs to Mr. W. S. O. Peniston, the proprietor of the Harring- 
ton House,* close by. It is to be hoped that he will soon improve 
the entrance and make it readily accessible to visitors. . 
A short distance farther north the road passes near the famous 
Walsingham place, which has some interesting historic associations, 
and it is also an interesting locality for the geologist and naturalist. 
The picturesque old stone house, not now occupied, is situated 
* This boarding house was our headquarters in 1901. We found this place an 
excellent one for our purposes. It is very near Harrington Sound on one side 
and Castle Harbor on the other. 
