INTRODUCTION. 



The small, yet interesting group of Islands, known as the 

 "Bermudas," is situate in 32° 15' North Latitude, and 

 64!° 51' West Longitude, and distant from Cape Hatteras, 

 ^the nearest point of the North American Coast, about six 

 hundred nautical miles. 



These Islands were discovered by Juan Bermudez, in a 

 Spanish vessel named " La Garza," bound from Spain to the 

 Island of Cuba, and having on board Gonzalez Oviedo, the 

 celebrated historian of the Indies. Having approached 

 within cannon-shot range of the southern shore, the disco- 

 verers, judging from the appearance of the land, regarded the 

 group as a single island, about twelve leagues in length and 



