THE BAHAMAS. 33 
and with their numerous keys extend along the eastern edge of 
the Little Bahama Bank for nearly a hundred miles. At the 
southerly extremity of Abaco is the famous ‘‘ Hole-in-the-Wall ” 
—a large opening through and below the top of a ridge of calca- 
reous rock. Also alight house bearing the same name. A lady 
informed us that several years since, while sailing past Abaco, 
she saw the sun at its setting through this ‘‘ Hole-in-the-Wall,” 
and that the globe of fire, in its setting of rock, left an indelible 
picture of rare and exquisite beauty upon her memory. 
The north-west and north-east Providence Channels separate 
the Little from the Great Bahama Bank. The distance between 
the Banks varies from fifteen to forty-five miles. 
““The north-east Providence Channel separates Abaco from 
the island of Eleuthera and the keys on its northern shore, which 
lie twenty-seven miles to the south-east of the Hole-in-the-Wall.” 
“‘The whole of the trade from North America and Europe to 
the Gulf of Mexico,” says Gov. Rawson, ‘‘ passes by the north 
of the Bahama Islands. Steamers bound to the south, stem the 
rapid current of the Florida Channel,” between the Banks and. 
Florida. Sailing vessels pass between Abaco and Eleuthera 
through the Providence Channels, within forty miles of Nassau, 
into the Gulf of Florida. <‘ All the return-bound trade to the 
north, whether using steam or sails, passes with the [Gulf] stream 
through the Florida Channel.” 
“From Eleuthera follow, in the same direction, south-east 
and then south, a succession of long narrow islands, viz. :—St. 
Salvador or Cat Island, Long Island, Ragged Island and its keys. 
* * * Outside the bank, forty-eight miles east of the south 
of St. Salvador, lies Watling Island, * * * and twenty-four 
miles from the north-east end of Long Island lies Rum Key;” 
between which and the island of St. Salvador, is the small island 
of Conception, 
