3883.] 243 [Sharpies. 



Approaching the island from the north the first object that 

 attracts the eye is the tall white light house which crowns its 

 northern extremity ; this stands on a sharp high point which 

 projects into the ocean, and which is surrounded on three sides 

 by coral reefs ; on the north and east these reefs extend for miles 

 making the coast an exceedingly dangerous one to approach, as 

 many captains have found to their sorrow. 



Passing down to the westward of the island a number of sin- 

 gular white structures are seen on the shore ; these are pyramidal 

 in shape, and have the appearance from the water of fortifications 

 made of white sand. They are heaps of salt, which is piled upon 

 the beach to cure, and to await the arrival of vessels, for the is- 

 land has no ships of its own and depends entirely upon foreign 

 vessels. These never charter to carry salt so long as they can 

 find more profitable cargoes. Our steamer anchors in front of the 

 Custom House, as this is the principal port upon the island. 

 There is no harbor at this point and vessels must lie in the open 

 roadstead, where they are protected from the prevalent winds and 

 waves by the island, but they must always be prepared to weigh 

 anchor and run, if the wind shifts to the north or west, which it 

 sometimes does very suddenly. As the ship comes to anchor she 

 is surrounded by boats large and small ; all the white people that 

 are in any way interested in the vessel come off as a matter of 

 course, and with them come those who wish to hear the news, for 

 it may be that they have not heard from the rest of the world 

 since the steamer touched a month ago. At any rate they have not 

 much else to do and the arrival of the steamer is a pleasant vari- 

 ety to the monotony of their daily lives. 



With them come all of the colored population that can get the 

 chance, for a vessel in port means pocket money to them, They 

 swarm over the lighters, and are ready and anxious to take the 

 passengers ashore. Most of the passengers land, as the steamer 

 lies here several hours unloading part of her cargo, the inhab- 

 itants depending largely upon New York for the necessities of 

 life. The negroes also bring off some of the curious or beautiful 

 natural products of the island, delicate shells wrought into 

 flowers by the skillful fingers of the colored women, and huge 

 conch shells of several varieties which are common along the 

 shores wherever the negroes have not exterminated them, 



