THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 589 



estimate the age of this tree, but it is said that it was the first silk-cotton 

 tree brought into the Islands, and that it is the parent of all the others in 

 the Bahamas. Beautiful and interesting nooks which give one an idea of the 

 beauty of tropical vegetation are found among the ocean-holes in the estate 

 of Mount Vernon. In the shady recesses of this quiet spot one can sit 

 and sketch by the hour amid orchids, huge. ferns, palms and other tropical 

 plants (Plate LXXXIV, Fig. 3). New Providence is well supplied with 

 good roads either for walking, riding or bicycling (Plate II, Pig. 2). And 

 for one who likes to explore there will be found no end of diversion. 

 Another delightful experience, which the tourist should not miss, is a 

 visit to the celebrated Sea Gardens. These gardens, which are situ- 

 ated about five miles from Nassau in the channel between Hog and Athol 

 Islands, is in reality a small coral reef. On looking down into the clear 

 water, one sees the most gorgeous fishes (Plates LII-LXI) dart in and out 

 amongst the various colored coral heads and waving plumes of gorgonias like 

 butterflies in a garden of brilliant flowers. Other points of interest are the 

 picturesque forts Charlotte and Fineastle (Plate LXXXIII, Pig. 1), which 

 are located on the highest points of Nassau, and command a fine view of 

 the harbor and the surrounding country. Nassau is also provided with a 

 public library. 



AREA AND POPULATION.' 



According to Governor Eawson'' the total area of the Bahama Islands 

 amounts to 4424 square miles. This area is divided among 29 islands, 661 

 keys and 2387 rocks. Most of these islands are long and narrow, forming in 

 reality little secondary archipelagoes. Andros, the largest of these island 

 groups, consists of three islands, 146 keys and 355 rocks, and has an area of 

 1600 square miles, which is equal to about 36 per cent of the total area of the 

 Bahamas. 



The estimated population of the Bahamas for 1903 was 55,190. This 

 would give an average of 12.5 persons to the square mile for the dry land area 



' Many of the tables and much of the material for this and the following sec- 

 tions have heen taken from the "Annual Report" of Governor Carter for 1902, 

 published in March, 1904. This paper is one of the official documents of the Ba- 

 hamas and has the title " General Descriptive Report of the Bahama Islands," in 

 which is included the Annual Report for 1902. 



= Bahama Blue-Book for 1866. 



