A WINTER TRIP TO JAMAICA 



S. B. Hopkins. 



T nine o'clock, on a 

 bright December 

 morning, we board- 

 ed the comfortable 

 steamer "Alene," of 

 the Atlas S. S. Co.'s 

 line, at its pier in 

 New York, and 

 sailed under sunny 

 skies ; but when off Cape Hatteras, 

 dark stormy weather made us feel 

 dull and spiritless, although we were 

 a jolly company of health and 

 pleasure- seekers. The next day, 

 however, this cloud on nature's face 

 passed off, and we sailed into warmer 

 waters. 



Nearing the Bahamas, great flights 

 of flying fish rose about us, chased 

 by some enemy. Their silvery sides 

 flashing in the sunlight made spirited 

 pictures. Great reaches of water 

 here and there seemed carpeted with 

 yellow moquetrie, which proved to 



be sea-weed floating on the surface 



in great masses, through which we 

 plowed our way. The screws became 

 entangled in it once, and the engines 

 had to be stopped until it could In- 

 cut off. Soon after we entered a 

 group of low-lying summer isles, 

 punctuatedby numerous lighthou 

 telling of the watchful guard which 

 the Government exercises over all 

 mariners. 



The fifth day brought the island oi 

 Cuba in sight, and we rounded the 

 eastern end, leaving llavti and San 

 Domingo in the distance, on our 

 left. 



We were told that we would see 

 the blue peaks of Jamaica in the 

 early morning. This gave zest and 

 expectancy to our slumber, and, at 

 daylight, we were charmed with t lie 

 sight of crumpled hills, and 

 palms, fringing the shore. Little 

 sails dotted the coast waters, set by 



A WINTER TRIP TO JAMAICA.— NATIVE FISHERMEN. 



217 



