PROM CORDOVA TOVCAT HAY

giants such as the present day does not produce. All the vegetable covering is
now of the second growth, though there are evidences of the forest primeval in
long-submerged old stumps that still exist, showing that Columbus was probably
correct in his descriptions.

It was my desire to examine every evidence that should help to establish the
character of the people resident here at the coming of the Spaniards, and bring
to light all the existing proofs Son
of their residence; hence I de-
voted all my time to that end.
The very morning after my
arrival, the Collector accom-
panied me on a short exploring
trip across the lagoon, where
there was said to be a cave that
had never been explored. He
placed the entire police force
at my disposal— said police
force consisting of one man,
who, with his two sons, managed
our boat, and carried us over
the shallow places in the lagoon. There were many shallow places, and also a
small canal, so that their labor as carriers was somewhat arduous; yet the police
force was equal to the demands upon him, and all told, he “backed” the
Collector and myself from the boat to the shore, and vice versa, eight times that
day, and without apparent fatigue. As the Collector was a very large man,
weighing at least two hundred pounds, this performance was very creditable to
the force.

After great difficulty, mainly experienced in cutting our way through the
thorny and matted growth that everywhere covers the surface in all the Ba-
hamas, we reached the cave in which tradition averred the ancient Indians used
to dwell. It was merely a large opening in the limestone, forming a room of
goodly proportions, the roof perforated in many places, and the floor covered
with bat guano. It had not been investigated, the islanders told us, but we
found nothing to reward our search, and so, late in the afternoon, we returned
to the lagoon and the town.

The heat had been so intense that day, that the next I was unable to leave
my hut, but the day after I went on the real exploring trip of the voyage, across
the lagoon and up its entire length, to the north end of the island, where lies
the conjectural landing-place of Columbus. |

I had with me the two sons of the policeman, who ably managed the boat,
and by noon we were at the head of the lagoon, where we left the craft in the
mud, and trudged over land, or rather rock, to the lighthouse, which rose before

  

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TASS Nes AA it Ten
See) SS OS Za
tts Se RE EEO

    

LOOKING ACROSS THE LAGOONS ON WATLING’S ISLAND.

(“ Our road ran across to the central lagoon.’’)