April  i,  1896.]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
WITH  DU.  D.  iMOUR[S,  C.M.G. 
What  is  to  be  clone  with  our  West  Indian  Colonies 
is  a question  that,  I have  reason  to  believe,  is  occu- 
pying Mr.  Chamberlain’s  attention  just  now.  Not 
from  the  political,  but  from  the  economic  or  indus- 
trial standpoint  is  the  Colonial  Secretary’s  mind  occu- 
pied with  them.  Among  the  gentlemen  whose  know- 
ledge and  experience  of  our  Colonies  and  their  natural 
products  has  led  to  tlieir  being  consulted  is  Dr.  D. 
Moi'ris,  C.W.U.,  Assistant  Director  of  the  Royal  Botanic 
Gardens  at  Kew,  who  has  made  a special  study  of 
what  I may  term  commercial  botany.  I am  afraid 
this  is  not  a generally  recognized  branch  of  the 
science  ; but  I mean  to  convey  the  impression,  a 
perfectly  correct  one,  that  Dr.  Morris  has  given 
an  eye  to  the  commercial  possibilities  of  vege- 
table products.  His  first  official  appointment 
was  to  the  Assistant  Directorship  of  the  Botanic 
Garden  in  Ceylon,  where  he  made  investigations 
into  the  fatal  coffee  leaf  disease  Tnen  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Jamaica,  and  spent  seven  years  in  the  West 
Indies,  while  he  has  been  to  St.  Helena  and  other 
places,  so  that  he  is  something  of  a traveller,  even  in 
these  days  when  never  to  have  left  London  is  becom- 
ing quite  an  e iviable  distinction. 
Last  year  Dr.  Morris  spent  his  winter  vacation  in 
the  Bahamas,  where,  though  his  visit  was  purely  un- 
official and  of  a holiday  nature,  it  was  felt  chat  it 
was  not  the  sort  of  circumstance  that  could  be  allowed 
to  pass  without  benefiting  somewhat  the  inhabitants. 
Dr.  Morris  cheerfully  placed  his  stores  of  knowledge 
and  experience  at  the  dispos.il  of  the  Gevernor  and 
gave  a series  of  lectures  on  the  best  means  of 
making  the  most  of  the  various  resources  of 
the  islands  that  ^\=ere  immensely  and  deservedly  ap- 
preciated. He  has  not  long  returned  to  his  po^t, 
and  it  follows  as  the  day  the  night,  that  I was 
not  long  in  tracking  him  to  his  lair.  This,  I 
may  explain,  is  a political  mode  of  reference  to  a 
very  comfortable  study  in  Kesv,  where  I was  cordi- 
ally welcomed.  Dr.  Morris  has  had  so  much  prac- 
tice in  handling  thorns  and  prickly  plants  that  the 
ubiquitous  interviewer  has  no  terrors  for  him. 
‘•I  am  afraid  you  will  knotv  almost  as  much 
about  the  Bahamas  as  I shall  bo  able  to  tell  you,” 
said  Dr.  Morris,  laughing,  when  I had  explained  to 
him  the  dire  object  of  my  visit, 
“ Well,  now,”  I whispered,  confidentially,  “ I 
really  think  professional  etiquette  demands  that  I 
should  answer  that  observation  in  the  affimative. 
But  as  wo  are  here  alone,  I don’t  mind  confessing 
that  I am  not  omniscient  and  that  pretty  well  every- 
thing you  can  tell  me  will  be  news.” 
“ Is  that  so  '?  ” quizz'cally  in'enogated  Dr. 
Morris.  ” Perhaps,  then,  I shall  not  be  far  wrong 
in  starting  by  telling  >ou  that  the  Bahamas  con- 
sist of  a chain  of  islands  some  twenty  of  which 
are  inhabited,  comprising  in  all  about  5,7‘.)-l  square 
miles,  and  forming  the  largest  West  Indian  colony, 
with  the  exception  of  Jamjica.  They  lie  in  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  off  the  South-East  of  the  United 
States.  The  principal  islands  .are  New  Providence 
in  which  the  capital  Nassau  is  situated,  San 
Salvador,  Abaco,  Grand  Bahama,  Long  Island,  etc. 
“And  what  about  population’.'” 
“ Over  48,000  in  181)1,  showing  an  increase  of  G,000 
as  compared  with  1881.  The  whites  are  one  in  seven 
or  eight  of  the  total  population,  thus  constituting  a 
much  greater  proportion  than  in  Jamaica,  where 
they  are  only  one  in  twenty-three.  The  w'hites  are 
descendants  of  old  Royali.st  families,  and  are  a 
very  line,  pleasant  people.  Many  are  of  Scotch  and 
Irish  descent,  and  it  is  curious  that  the  latter  still 
retain  the  brogue  though  they  have  been  isolated 
for  ages.  It  struck  mo  as  decidedly  curious 
and  interesting  that  tin's  .should  ba^■(^  per- 
sisted. They  are  a hard-working,'  steady  people, 
and  intensely  loyal.  Although,  owing  to  geographi- 
cal reasons,  their  trade  is  chiefly  with  the  Lulled 
States,  their  attachment  to  Great  Britain  is  very 
great,  and  they  are  intensely  grateful  for  any  sign 
that  the  mother  country  is  interested  in  iheir  wel- 
fare, and  very  thankful  for  a helping  hand.  They 
do  not  want  money  ; but  some  trouble  to  i onsider 
their  special  requirements,  and  advice  to  help  them 
to  prosirerity ; and  I am  very  pleased  that  there  is 
every  f)>'pspect  of  Mr.  Chamberlain  not  forgetting 
tlieni,  spite  of  the  great  calls  more  pressing  matters 
are  making  upon  him.” 
“ There  is  a feeliiig  of  interest  in  the  Colonies,  little 
as  well  as  big,  growing  up  everywhere  in  Great  Britain 
now,  I anigl.id  to  say,  so  that  your  observations  do  not 
surprise  me.  What  sort  of  climate  have  the  Baha- 
mas ?” 
“Very  pleasant  and  salubrious  indeed  in  the  winter 
season,  when  they  are  much  frequented  by  visitors 
from  the  States,  especially  those  in  search  of  health. 
There  is  an  excellent  hotel  owned  by  the  Government, 
which  is  open  during  the  season.  In  the  summer  of 
course  it  is  much  hotter.  The  rainfall  is  about  40 
inches.” 
Would  the  Bahamas  be  suitable  as  a winter  resort 
for  such  persons  as  now  go  to  Madeira  ’?  ” 
“Undoubtedly  they  would,  and  I should  say  would 
have  some  advantages  over  Madeira  in  that  the  climate 
is  more  bracing.  But  as  regards  European  visitors, 
the  distance  and  the  difficulty  of  communication  have 
to  be  cousilered.  You  see  you  have  to  go  to  New 
York  first,  and  then  from  New  York  to  the  Bahamas.” 
“ Is  there  no  direct  communication  with  Great 
Britain  ’?  ” 
“ Not  now,”  answered  Dr.  Morris.  “There  used  to 
be  a monthly  steamer,  but  it  didn’t  pay,  and  now 
there  is  none  at  all.” 
“ And  next.  Dr.  Morris,  I shall  be  glad  if  you 
can  give  me  some  information  as  to  the  trade  of  the 
Bahamas  ” 
“With  pleasure,  my  dear  Heimes.  I remember 
enough  of  my  classics  to  know  that  your  mind  was 
always  directed  to  business,  and  I see  that  your 
survival  into  the  fag  end  of  the  nineteenth  century 
has  not  made  any  change  in  you.  As  I have 
already  mentioned,  the  islands  trade  almost 
entirely  with  the  United  States.  A glance  at  the 
map  and  a thought  as  to  what  I have  just  said 
about  communication  will  sufficiently  explain  why. 
For  the  year  1891,  the  latest  of  which  the  returns 
are  available,  the  imports  amounted  to  £175,000,  and 
the  exports  to  £120,000,  a total  trade  of  £295,000.  Of 
this  total  about  25  per  cent,  was  done  with  the 
United  Kingdom.  The  imports,  I may  say  here,  con- 
sist chiefly  of  foodstuffs,  hardware,  coiton  and  other- 
fabrics,  and  wines  and  spirits.” 
“ Sponges,  pine-apples,  hemp,  turtle  shell,  logw'ood 
and  other  timber,  and  fruit  of  various  descriptions. 
I should  like  to  tell  you  something  in  detail  about 
these  items  if  you  will  permit  me.” 
What  need  to  mention  that  my  permission 
was  freely  and  unreservedly  granted.  Dr.  Mor- 
ris ^ asked  me  too  pleasantly  to  be  refused. 
Besides,  though  this  is  secondary,  had  I not  visited 
him  specially  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say’? 
“Well,  the  chief  industry  from  the  money  point 
of  view  is  the  sponge  fishery,  the  annual  output,  if 
that  manufacturing  term  may  be  employed,  being 
£60,000.  A large  fleet  is  employed  in  this 
industry.  There  is  also  a native-built  fleet  of  over 
100  boat.s  employed  in  other  forms  of  fishing,  amongst 
which  I may  mention  pink  pearls,  and  there  are  500 
nien  employed  in  this  way.  Do  I think  these 
industries  capable  of  much  more  development  ? 
No,  I do  not  think  they  are.  I fancy  that 
as  much  capital  and  energy  are  devoted  to 
them  as  they  will  stand.  It  is  in  the  development  of 
small  indust)-ie.s,  in  putting  labour  into  the  land  that 
the  salvation  of  the  West  Indian  Colonies  is  to  be 
found  and  it  was  by  indicating  the  way  in  which  this 
may  be  most  advantageously  done  that  I may  claim 
to  have  been  of  some  little  service  during  my  trip. 
Living,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  Bahamas  do,  out 
of  the  main  track  of  travel,  they  want  some  outside 
help  as  to  what  they  can  produce  that  other  people 
arcj-eadyand  willing  to  buy  (roni  them.  I don’t  like 
to  appear  egotistical,  but  in  Jamaica  the  develop- 
ment of  the  fruit  industry  was  a matter  in  which  I 
took  much  interest,  and,  as  results  are  showing,  not 
unsuccessfully.” 
“ I am  aw  are  that  Jamaica  may  be  said  to  have 
saved  itself  by  fruit,  and  there  is  no  immodesty  in 
your  churning  a shai©  in  a good  work,''  I i’eplied 
