SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING 

 TO THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 



BY 



GEORGE BURBANK SHATTUCK, Ph. D., 



Associate Professor of Physiographic Geology in the Johns Hopkins University. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Nassau, the capital of the Bahama Islands and chief port of entry, is situ- 

 ated on the north shore of New Providence and protected from the open sea 

 by Hog Islands, a long, narrow strip of coral rock which acts as a natural 

 breakwater. Between this breakwater and the town is the harbor of Nassau. 

 It is in reality a channel between New Providence and Hog Island, about 

 half a mile wide, and deep enough to accommodate large vessels. The value 

 of the harbor is, however, impaired by a small island known as " Potters Cay." 

 This cay so impedes the channel that vessels of over 200 feet in length are 

 deprived of swinging room. Toward the eastern end the channel opens to 

 shallow banks frequented only by small boats, and toward the western end 

 the entrance is impeded by a dangerous bar, impassable when a heavy sea is 

 running. 



No words can describe the beauty of Nassau as one approaches the harbor 

 from the sea. The ocean of deep sapphire suddenly changes to a lagoon of 

 emerald green, surrounded by shores of snow-white coral sand. Beyond, the 

 white limestone houses of the town, intermingled with groves of graceful 

 palms, and half concealed by gorgeous poincianas, rise on a gentle slope 

 against a sky of purest blue. The green, transparent water; the intense 

 blue of the sky; the blotches of blood-red poincianas; the snow-white drifts 

 of coral sand; the- vivid green of the foliage — all these unexpected and yet 

 harmonious contrasts strike the eye together, and stamp on the memory a 

 picture of rugged beauty which nothing can efface. The impression thus 

 received does not suffer when later the tourist wanders about the quaint old 

 town, to examine at leisure the details of this picture. Nassau is a village 



