Fort D'Arcy has no ditch or contrescarp, and an escarp is completely exposed to its base; its area is occupied by a splinter proof magazine for 500 barrels, and a general store for the ordnance service. In Fort Charlotte are several casements, with galleries of communication to them, cut out of the solid rock, but they are very damp and unfit for habitation. There is also a large powder magazine in the north front; it is capable of maintaining near 30 guns and three or four mortars. In case of necessity it could only be maintained for a few days, according to the force brought against it, since its faulty construction would be taken advantage of by an enemy. tally extinct), who remained there till 1641, when the | open ditch, with low contrescarp on the south front. Spaniards drove them from the islands, murdered the Governor, and committed many acts of cruelty. In 1666, the English again colonized in the Bahamas, and New Providence remained in their hands till 1703, when the French and Spaniards again expelled them, and destroyed their plantations. The Bahamas now became a rendezvous for pirates, whose proceedings, so hurtful to commerce, were only finally suppressed by Capt. Woodes Rogers, of the British navy, who was established as Governor, and soon reduced the outlaws to obedience. After this some of the other islands became inhabited, and remained quietly in our possession until the American war, when, in 1776, Commodore Hopkins, with a squadron from Philadelphia, attacked and plundered the settlement, and carried off the Governor. In 1781, the Spaniards took possession of the isles, but they were restored to the British crown by treaty in 1783, having, however, been previously captured for England by the enterprising Col. Devaux, of South Carolina. The Bahamas have ever since remained in our possession. III. Amidst a group of several hundred islets none are elevated; they are evidently the work of the coral insect, who, with all his apparent insignificance, has created many beautiful and habitable spots for the dwelling and culture of man. Some of the Bahamas are inhabited, others present to the eye a few plantations, the remainder are tenantless, though doubtless suited for culture, if there were an abundant population desirous of obtaining food. Generally speaking, the Bahamas are low and flat, indeed little elevated, even in their highest points, above the level of the sea, nevertheless, their verdant appearances render them extremely prepossessing. The ocean close to the isles is of an unfathomable depth; reefs of rocks, or rather walls of coral, bound the islands after the manner observable in the South sea isles. It will be sufficient to particularize a few of the principal of our possessions in the group. NEW PROVIDENCE, from its harbour and relative situation with respect to the Florida channel, is considered the most important of the Bahamas, and on it is situate Nassau, the seat of government for the isles, and the head quarters of the naval and military establishments. The island is about 21 miles in length from E. to W., and seven in breadth from N. to S., mostly flat, and covered with brushwood and extensive lagoons; a range of hilly rocks runs along part of the island, at a very short distance from the sea, in a direction E. and W. On this ridge many of the buildings of Nassau are constructed, including the government house, and at its extremity to the W. are the barracks and Fort Charlotte; another ridge, called the Blue Hills, runs in a direction nearly parallel with the former, and at about two and a half miles distance. The principal works of defence in the Bahamas are at Nassau, in the island of New Providence, constructed to protect and defend the harbour and town, it being the seat of government of the Bahamas. Fort Charlotte is the main work, having an attached work on the west front, called Fort D'Arcy; it is situated at the western extremity of a ridge of hills, which run nearly parallel to the bay or harbour, with the town of Nassau between. This work is built of the natural porous stone of the islands, and of its superstructure by that cut from the ditch; a portion of the height of the escarp and contrescarp being formed by slopes given to the cuttings in the natural rock. It is of a bad construction, with an unfinished Fort Stanley. The main object of this work, in conjunction with a detached stone casemated battery, called Fort Stanley on the hill, and eastward of Fort Charlotte and the water battery of four 24-pounders, on traversing platforms at the foot of the hill on the sea shore, having its rear open, is to defend the western entrance to the harbour; it also commands a part of the town, and the main western road which runs along at the foot of the hill. It may be considered as the citadel of the garrison. The next work of defence is Fort Fincastle, situated on the same ridge of hills and immediately in the rear of the town, which it completely commands. It is a stone work, mounting four 18-pounders on traversing platforms, and two short guns on platforms, of splinter proof casemated, for the troops and magazine, both of which are very small. It has no ditch, and the escarp towards the W. is of an inconsiderable height and exposed to its foot; its object is to defend the harbour and town, and to occupy, in connection with Fort Charlotte, from which it is distant between 1,700 and 1,800 yards, the high and advantageous ground in rear of the town. Upon these two forts are established signal stations, by which the town and garrison are apprized of the approach of vessels of every description. Commanding the eastern entrance to the bay or harbour of Nassau is Fort Montague, situated on a point of land about two miles eastward of the town, it is a low quadrangular stone work of old construction, without a ditch, mounting four heavy guns on traversing platforms, at the angles; having a small building in the area for troops, and another over the entrance as a magazine. On Potter's Key, a small island in the harbour, was formerly erected a two-gun battery, closed in the rear by a double block house; the latter has fallen into a ruinous and quite irreparable state, and the battery is not kept up. The intention of this work was to rake any vessel, on passing Fort Montague, and by a musketry fire prevent boats passing upward on either side of the island. There are now the remains of a block house on Hog Island, opposite to the town, long since disused and now uninhabitable. At the water's edge stands the old Fort Nassau, in the town; it is a dismantled square fort, having regular sides, with bastions connected by curtains, formerly was the only defence in the place, and gave shelter to the garrison. It has for many years past been in a ruinous and condemned state; there has been a project to take it down, and on its site to build iron barracks; but it would be more desirable to remove the materials, and employ them in carrying out an embankment, and forming a wharf or quay, which would open Heming's Square to the influence of the sea breezes. There are barracks enough for the garrison required, at head quarters; and it will become essentially necessary to form posts for the protection of the inhabitants and their property in the out island settlements, where at present they are exposed to depredations from pirates, slaves, and adventurers. [B. B. for 1836.] ་་ HOG ISLAND is little more than a reef of rocks, which forms part of the N. harbour of New Providence. ROSE ISLAND, to the N. point, and E. of New Providence, is about nine miles long and a quarter broad. It affords protection to Cochrane's Anchorage." HARBOUR ISLAND is five miles long and two broad, lat. 25.29 N. long. 76.34 W., very healthy, and a favourite resort for convalescents. TURK'S ISLAND, lat. 21 32 N., long. 71.05 W., principal mart, for salt-making, peculiarly healthy, and a point of military importance in regard to St. Domingo. NORTH AND SOUTH BIMINIS. These isles are about seven miles long, in lat. 25.40 N. long., 79.18 W., healthy, well wooded and watered, capacious anchorage, and in the event of a war, highly important for the protection of the trade of the gulf of Florida, to the E. of which they are situate. The anchorage on the gulf side can admit any class of shipping. Those not mentioned above are in chief- ANDROS, long (22 leagues) and irregular, to the W. of New Providence eight leagues. Between them a tongue of ocean water runs in S.E. as far as lat. 23.21, called the Gulf of Providence: access difficult from reefs. Off its S.E. end are the Espirito Santo Isles. The BERRY ISLANDS, an irregular group. Several small harbours formed by them, where refreshments may be had. The S.E. of these islands are denominated the Frozen IV. The Bahamas are formed of calcareous rocks, Keys, and the N. the Stirrup Keys. Off the northern- which are composed of corals, shells, madrepores, and most of the latter there is anchorage on the bank, in various marine deposits, hardened into solid masses in lat. 25.49. The GREAT and LITTLE ISAACS. W. N., the revolutions of ages. The deposits appear to have 48 miles from Little Stirrup Key, is the easternmost been thrown up in regular strata, at various periods; of three small keys, called the Little Isaacs, and five and their upper surface, deeply honey-combed, bears miles further is the westernmost key of the same evident marks of having been long covered by the name: these are from 50 to 60 or 70 feet in length; waters of the ocean. No primitive formation has the middle key is not so large. These keys are situated been found, and the bases of the islands are evidently on the western end of the Gingerbread Ground, which coral reefs, originating with the Moluscæ, which, extends five leagues E. by S. from the weathernmost unpossessed of locomotive powers, have organic rock, or Little Isaac, is about five miles wide near the functions destined for the secretion of the lime reeast end, and has some dangerous sharp rocks upon quired for their calcareous coverings. Marl is formed it, with only seven to nine feet water. The NARANJOS, on many of the out islands, and here and there strata or two ORANGE KEYS, lie four miles within the edge of argillaceous earth may be met with. Meteoric of the bank, in lat. 24.55, and long. 79.7. ELEUTHERA stones have been discovered rudely sculptured with extends E. nine leagues, S.E. four ditto, and S. E. human features by the aborigines; but whether found twelve leagues. GUANAHANI, or CAT ISLAND, N.W. on the islands or brought thither, it is impossible to eight leagues and a half E. S. from Powel's Point, say; and at Turk's Island a great number of calcareous in Eleuthera; it thence extends south eastward 15 balls have been found, all bearing an indentation, as leagues, having a breadth of three to seven miles. though they had been suspended to a pedicle. Their Eleven miles S.E. from Cat Island is Conception Is-origin or nature is equally unknown. In confirmation land, of about seven miles in length, N.E. and S.W., and three miles in breadth. YUMA, or LONG ISLAND, 17 leagues in length from S.E. to N.W. S. by W., 174 leagues from the S. point of Long Island, is Cayo Verde, or Green Key. From Cayo Verde the edge of the bank forms a great and deep bay to the N.W., in the S.W. part of which is Cayo de Sal, at the distance of 10 leagues from the former. EGG ISLAND is small, in lat 25.31. There are many smaller keys and rocks too numerous to mention. An idea of the number and extent of the isles will be conveyed by the following statement of the lands in the Bahamas, from an official return dated in 1827. of the idea that these islands have been raised from the bottom of the ocean on pillars of coral, after the manner of the eastern and southern hemisphere, it may be stated many of their salt-water lakes and ponds communicate with the ocean, as shewn by their sea fish. Some of them are so deep as not to allow soundings; and the water in them rises and falls with the tides on the coast. placed by geographical position without the tropics, removed from the excessive heat of a vertical sun, and the intense cold of a northern winter, the Bahamas enjoy a climate mild, equable and delightful. To the islands within the torrid zone they are nearly akinin the little variety of season, the natural productions of the earth, and the manners and customs of the people; but the decided difference in the mean annual temperature, and the more robust and healthy appearance of all classes of the community, gives to the V. Situated at the mouth of the gulf of Florida, Bahamas all the appearances of a country situate in a more temperate latitude. The summer and winter (hot and cold), wet and dry seasons, are well marked; the cold season lasts from November to May, during which period the sky is remarkably clear and serene, the mercury at noon F. occasionally below 60, seldom beyond 70 or 75, while a refreshing N. breeze tempers the mid-day heat, and the mornings and evenings are cool and invigorating. From May to November the heat increases and decreases as the sun advances and retires from its great northern declination. The thermometer ranges from 75 to 85 F., rarely higher; a fine breeze frequently blows from the E., with cooling showers of rain, before the summer solstice and towards the autumnal equinox. The mornings have then a peculiar freshness, and the evenings a softness and beauty unknown to colder countries. From the flatness of the isles, the full benefit of the sea breezes is felt throughout every part of each island. The health of the climate will be indicated by the fact, that out of a population of 1,148 at Harbour Island, no funeral took place from the 5th of June to the 12th of November, while, with the same population, 20 or 30 would have expired in any part of Europe; and at Nassau the proportion of deaths to the population was, in 1826, only 1 in 45, which is less than the mortality of England. Max. 78 68 84 68 April. 84 73 E. N.E. S.E. N.W. May May 87 74 Variable. June ୦୪ 83 77 N.E. S.E. N.E. N. N.E. S.E. N.E. S. N.E. N.E. N. S.S.W. N.W. S. S.W. W. N.W. N.E. E. N.W. S. WINDS. THERMOMETER. The following is a Meteorological Table for Nassau, New Providence. VI. In 1720, the population was stated at-whites, 830; negroes, 310. In 1727, whites 2,000; negroes, 2,241. Return of the Population, and of the Births, Marriages, and Deaths of Bahamas in 1836. There are five resident strangers not included in the preceding columns. A statement of the Number of Slaves for whom Compensation has been claimed, and of the Number of Claims preferred for such compensation, and of the Amount of Compensations awarded in each of the classes of Prædial attached, Prædial-unattached, and Non-Prædial. [Parliamentary Return to the House of Lords, March, 1838.] From [B. B.] for 1836, VII. Churches, Livings, &c. in 1836. [B. B.]Christ's Church, in the Island of New Providence; value of living, 340., Church will contain from 700 to 800 persons, from 400 to 500 generally attend. There is a parsonage-house, a chapel which will contain 400 persons, about 250 generally attend. St. Mathew, in the Island of New Providence; living 3401., Church contains from 300 to 400, about 250 attend. St. John's Harbour, Egg Current Island; living, 2707., Church contains 400 persons, a Chapel which will contain 60, about 50 attend. St. Patrick Eludlein; living, vacant, the Chapel will contain 400 persons, from 50 to 60 attend. St. Salvador, vacant. St. Andrews at Exuma and Rugged Island, vacant. St. Paul's at Long Island, vacant. St. David's at Crooked Island, vacant. St. George at the Caicos, vacant. St. Thomas at Turk's Island, 2701., Church will contain 260 persons. House rent is allowed. St. Peter at Abuco, vacant. St. Christopher, district of Watling's Island and Rem's key, vacant. St. Stephen, district of St. Andrew's Island, vacant. Grand Bahamas, and the Beng Islands, vacant. Most of these Churches are Protestant. There are nine Dissenting places of worship, including the Scotch Kirk. VIII. In 1832 the number of male scholars in the Bahamas was 549; females, 568; total, 1117. Four were public schools; four Sunday schools; two day and one free school for infants. The public schoolroom in the town of Nassau is capable of containing 200 pupils. The Wesleyans have two Sabbath and two Catechetical schools in New Providence. In the former, (in 1832) 24 white and 281 coloured children and adults receive gratuitous instruction in reading and writing, by 10 white and 18 coloured teachers. They have also 10 Sunday schools in the out-islands, where 630 whites and coloured children are instructed. There are also about 76 private schools, containing about 230 or 240 scholars; the number of pupils in each varying from three to upwards of 30. This school established in 1836, supported by funds received from bequests, and exclusively under the control of the rector of Christchurch. + Established in 1835. Ditto in 1835; this school is supported by the Baptists. § African settlement, paid by Her Majesty's government. || Established # Ditto in 1836. Ditto in 1836. ** Ditto in 1835. + Ditto in 1836. in 1836. §§ This and the following schools were discontinued in October, in consequence of the violent opposition made by the white inhabitants to the admission of coloured children.. |