XII {NTRODUCTION. 
These narrow streets, winding up the hill on which much of the town 
is built, with their gardens hemmed in by high walls, over which hang 
different species of cacti, with papaws, bananas, and plantains tower- 
ing above, and here and there the graceful form of the palmetto sur- 
mounting the same, will remind the visitor of a small Spanish or East- 
ern town. 
To obtain a good view of the harbor and surrounding country the 
visitor should proceed either up to the Signal Station or Barrack Hill, 
from which will be obtained an extensive prospect. Not far beyond 
the barracks, and eastward of there, is a small cove on the northern 
shore, known as ‘Buildings Bay,” said to be the place where, in 1609, 
Sir George Somers had his cedar vessel, in which he proceeded to Vir- 
ginia, built. There are three or four strong forts commanding the 
channel through the reefs on the north side. ; 
David’s Island, forming the southern boundary of St. George’s har- 
bor, is quite small. It is here that some of the best arrowroot is grown 
and manufactured; and this island also furnishes most of the pilots 
who hail from the east end of the islands. There is a whalehouse here, 
which is now, however, rarely used, as the whale fishery has been much 
neglected of late years. In its many pretty little bays and inlets a 
variety of shells and sea-weeds may be obtained; thousands of sea 
anemones occur in the clear shallow water, and many species of crusta- 
ceans and echinoderms may be collected on the white sandy bottom, 
which renders their forms wonderfully conspicuous. 
Castle Harbor.—This charming sheet of water, the beauties of which, on 
a bright sunny day, with sufficient breeze to ripple the surface of the 
azure waters, are not to be excelled in any part of the world, is an ex- 
cellent collecting place. The day’s work should commence by a Visit 
to Castle Island, which commands the entrance to the harbor. The 
visitor can only land upon the island at one spot on its southern side. 
Here are the ruins of what, many years ago, was a fort of some im- 
portance, called ‘‘The King’s Castle;” the old brick oven, too, has be- 
come a cave with miniature stalactites. The island is about 270 yards 
long by 90 broad. It is a lonely, desolate spot, the home of the lizard 
and prickly pear (Opuntia). 
In sailing along for Southampton Island, which is the next to attract 
attention, the entrance channel to Castle Harbor will be crossed, show- 
ing how intricate the passage must have been for the large West Indian 
mail steamers, which made this harbor their port of entry for some few 
