t 
An Isolated Community in the Bahama Islands. = 877 ` 
scendants of the slaves of former times, in about equal pro- 
portions. The two races co-operate in perfect harmony for the 
general good; the Black accepting an- inferior status in society 
without a murmur. The best part of the town and the more 
eligible dwellings are occupied by the Whites, it need hardly 
said; but all mingle together in the ‘school and the church. 
‘The principal sources of income are pineapple-culture and the — 
sponge-fishery. The government introduced the pineapple and 
d the land at a price so low that all could purchase “ plan- 
tations ;” so that most of the natives, whether black or white, 
either have, or had originally, plantations of larger or smaller 
hie. I have been informed by a gentleman engaged in.the 
fruit trade that about fifteen or twenty vessels are loaded, during 
Summer months, with the pineapple; the average value 
4 cargo being about two thousand five hundred dollars. 
This would make a total of, say, forty thousand dollars, to be 
are to be deducted; and the natives complain loudly of the low 
e given for the fruit, Reckoning that an equal amount is 
from “sponging,” the total income would still be very. 
_» 18 the hog, of a very poor breed and in still poorer con 
k Sg Meat is practically unknown, while canned ma w i 
fee. obtain, except as a rare luxury. Fish may be g o 
dance in the open ocean a mile or two away; but this os 
7 the possession of a boat—which all have not got—and 
“Xpenditure of a little energy, which requires more than an 
w 
