ISLAND SOLITUDES. SEA-BATHING IN WINTER. 207 
after day, the expected steamer fails to arrive, and he looks a 
hundred times in vain for the signal of her approach upon the 
flag-staff at Fort Fincastle, he must not allow himself to think 
even of the possibility that she has foundered at sea, or has been 
wrecked on some of the dangerous rocks or reefs or shores that 
have made the Bahamas so noted in the past. He must not in- 
dulge in speculations upon the probable results of such a misfor- 
tune, nor strive to find out how long it will be before the outside 
world will hear of the disaster and make provision for his return 
to the living busy world from which he is separated. If he has 
a sick relative in charge, he must not undertake to solve the con- 
undrum what he ought to do in case the sickness assumes a very 
dangerous form, and how he will manage in case of death. But, 
on the other hand, by all means let him feast and fill his soul 
with the sensuous, ambrosial delights that surround him, thank 
God for the clear, blue skies, the mild uniform temperature, 
the soft and balmy airs, the tranquil and beautiful seas, the 
strange, wonderful fauna of the emerald water, the picturesque 
islets and keys, and the new and most charming vegetable world 
that is ever spread out in unfading beauty before him; let him 
enjoy the present, trust in the future, and in a Divine Providence 
that wisely directs, rules and overrules with unerring wisdom 
and unflagging benevolence, and leave to fools and madmen the 
bad business of distilling, like wasps and hornets in flower gar- 
dens, poisons from present joys. 
While considering Nassau’s advantages asa health resort in 
winter, we ought not to omit to mention the facilities which it 
offers for sea bathing. In this particular nature has done for it 
all that could be reasonably asked or desired. She has furnished 
both air and water of a most agreeable temperature at all seasons 
of the year, and during all the hours of both day and night. 
No cold currents of either air or water are encountered. The 
