62 ISLES OF SUMMER. 
taries, in addition to a Governor and lords temporal enough to 
stock a great empire, isn’t it about time for the people of the 
states to wake up anddosomething? Haven’t we all the materials 
necessary for the manufacture of whole regiments of “lords 
temporal” and ‘Fathers in God,” and why shouldn’t we have 
our share? 
Nassau harbor is about one and one-half miles long, and two- 
fifths of amile wide. Potter’s Key runs mid-way down the har- 
bor from the east, and separates the eastern half into two parts. 
The quays and landing places are on the south side of the 
harbor, opposite the east end of Hog Island. The shipping 
occupy the south side of the channel, which is separated from 
the north side by a bank having fifteen feet of water. The 
ordinary tides rise from two to three feet. It is not generally 
practicable for vessels to enter the harbor from the east which 
draw over nine feet of water. 
Old wrecks and storm-worn and condemned vessels abound, 
and suggest to a stranger Nassau’s importance as aseaport. Her 
back door is open .only to small vessels, while her front door is 
barred. 
That the bar at the main entrance to Nassau harbor is often 
a very scrious obstruction to navigation, is evident from the fact 
that the authorities have established the following bar signals: 
“Tf the harbor is approached with a northerly wind, and there 
is an uncertainty as to the state of the bar, should it be danger- 
ous to cross, a red flag will be hoisted on the signal staff near the 
lighthouse. * * Should it be possible, but too dangerous to 
get out, a white flag will be hoisted, and the pilot-boat will be 
seen in waiting just within the breakers, showing a flag red and 
white horizontally,” &c. 
The Governor in his report for 1878, stated that in September 
of that year, for six successive days, no vessel was able to cross 
