THE LAND OF THE LILY AND THE ROSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 50

THE LAND OF THE LILY AND THE ROSE.

Radrantv irr the' eternal sunshine of the Southern- Atlantic lie' the Bermudas, tHose islands discovered by Juan Bar* mudesr in 1515; colonised by the Hngliahr a century later, and celebrated in song- by Shakespeare, Marvel, Moore, and other poets 1 . For Britain Bermuda is a weßfcernr''Gf'br&ltajc t — a 8tro»gbold rS bn which 1 millions' have been* spent on fortifications. Its geopgrapbical position renders' its maintenance in defensive efficiency an Imperial-necessity. Naval rendezvous, coaling station, and fortress} it occupies a central position in our* trio of Atlantic naval stations— Halifax, Bermuda, and Jamaica. Situated' about 2000' miles SOutb-west of England, 700 from N«vir,Ybrk, and about 750 from Halifax; N S., Bermuda comprises- 365 islets, bnilt on the peak* of a submarine mountain- covering- an area of'2o pquare'mileß, and rising 230 ft above^tbe 1 sea; They expend in an Irregular course, in shape something like a fish-hook-, the. curved, end

Hying to the westward, and forming the deep, commodious, land-locked harbour of Great Sound: There' ar« six principal islandfe —the Mainland (on which Hamilton is situr a ted), Sfc'. G«rga'd, St. Dxvid'^. SjinerseK, J3oaz:, and Ireland. Connecting bridges and causeways facilitate iuter-Gomauinicfttion. The other islets are scattered about in picturesque irregularity, each pospeflsing some particular charm, due to its confirraar tion, position, or scenery. Pretty lakes, miniature bays, rising hills crowned with powerful forts, flower-decked valleys, a wealth of luxuriant' vegetation, and mimsrous white and glistening cottages, impart a diversified" aspect to the- landscape. Saveral miles' out to sea. a cordon of sunken reefa-encircle-the islands: The channel ways through; this natural rampart —reared, in the course ofi countless canturie* by the drifting and hardening of the sand, and ittr subsaquent'subsidence —are extremely narrow and tortuous; so that these rerfs conatitate a protection that renders Bermuda, practically impregnable.' The first view-is- particularly enchanting. A; tiny epsck in. the oC3an emerges' above, the horizon, increasing ih' size- until one* see», floating off the bosom of. the waters, &■ lovely islaed —a symphonyin green, white; and. gold.. At tha northeastern extremity, nestling in a 1 grove, of' cedars,, standsr St. David'a, with its- lofty white lighthouse, which flashesonl; a nightly welcome — and warnings to approaching) ships. No seaport in the world has BOCh a-curiour approach aa- Hamilton. The town,, buried' in' tha interior, is not visible from Grassy Bay—a commodious harbour lying midway between Hamilton and Ireland Island —and' it is impossible for any stranger to divine Its direction. The ship Is oarefully steered 4 through* mazy channels, past flowery islets, through passages no wider than the Strand. (These channels are now being superseded' by wide and deep passages, at a cost of £<p.000)i For some- time not a glimpse 1 of tbe town Is obtained; then the ship 1 suddenly

emerge& into a broader channel, rounds yet another point,, steam* into a harbour} and arrives In sight of Hkmfltbn, a cftj entirely "comgoaed o£ white bouses built on. a elopo running down to the w»r«rt edjra, Between ' Hamilton' and Sfei Gedrgrf^ ißFktt'B ViE*g», Ktuatedi near Hantofftou gbondi ay pittty inland lake having an extremsTy narrow ontlet.to.&eaea, Neat heweffitfiaDeriWi Hole, ■a- pelladdi- po&i 30ft. deep,; containing/ a marvellous, collect ion. of- fiibv Maumgfb other vaitetiesj are. hamlat^gronpersj. Mjappen«, and: acgal fUh;. This last) epWesAii pacnliai hi abaps^ and its colour i*of!a:d««p marinaiblas. Sama>o4 thefiMb aro eaid to;be ,ar hundred years* old, Tbe voracity oik the groupers, i* aatoniahing f Th«y lftemlly. tear into shreds the small flih- thrown. In. to them, making th« pool boil in. tbeii fzaatic efforts taget their share of the. prey. Somaofth'a stronger on«s. keep their, heads clear, out of the water, their huge, ugJy nv.mha wicls open, ready to catch any stray mor.eT. There ia a tradition about "an ucf jrcutiato baby wbichf, Being dropped in by a careless nuraamaid-,, cam& to- a pitiful and untimely end. But this horrible legentfhaa never- been confirmed.-. fTot far" from here ia> Walnngham House, wlfore Thoruas Moore dwelt during bis' stay in Bermuda-. Here fs the famous calabash tree under which 1 he wrote some-of His poemsi lir- the vicinity ir cms of the Walsingbam oaves 1 . Ta reach this* lovely 'grotto vißitois ciainbir over' and dowo An irregular.- pathway. Inrida the grotto toe limpidity of the water is truly maivellow, and'wb«H a lfglit ia^stract the sense 1 ir like a glrorjjge'of' fairyland.— lVotiAND B'vEFOBT, & tbe Ludgafcfl H'ontbly. •