first thought is that there has been a fall of snow, but the thermometer sets him right on that point, and he learns that, in the absence of wells, all the roofs are plastered and kept very clean, that water is conducted thence into tanks, from which it is drawn for use. This is for ordinary dwellings. Where a large supply is required, as about some of the encampments, the rocky slope of a hill is selected, graded, plastered, and that, presenting a larger surface, is used for the purpose. The water is singularly pure, and pleasant to the taste. For the Boer camps large distilling apparatus was installed at great cost.

The houses are rarely more than one story in height. They are almost invariably built entirely of the Bermuda stone-walls, roofs, and chimneys. The stone is of a creamy white colour, and so porous that it seems as if it would crumble in a day. Indeed, it is so soft that it is generally sawed out with a common handsaw. The tiles, which ut two feet long, one foot d from six to eight inches

1

thick, are left for a short time to harden in the sun.

The walls and roofs of all houses are plastered, and this fact, taken in connection with the entire freedom from frost, explains their durability, many of which are in a good state of preservation after standing for a hundred and fifty years. They are usually white, with green Venetian blinds, admitting light and air from beneath.

There are only two towns in Bermuda Hamilton and St. George's. Most of the people therein are engaged in trade, but there is no excitement about it. Few business men in Hamilton reside in the town, but drive or sail in from homes in the country.

The islands are in the latitude of Charleston, South Carolina, and the nearest point on the continent is Cape Hatteras, five hundred and eighty miles distant. They are of calcareous formation, "due entirely," says Colonel Nelson, "to the action of the wind in blowing up sand made by the disintegration of coral reefs. They present but

one mass of animal remains in various stages of comminution and disintegration. Nearly every shell now known in the surrounding sea may be found in the rock, quite perfect, except with regard to colour. Along the south shore are sand-hills which illustrate the formation of Bermuda. In one instance a cottage has been submerged, trees to the height of several feet, and the sand has even travelled up a hill one hundred and eighty feet high. Nine miles north of the islands are four needle rocks,

apparently the remnants of former islands. They are about ten feet above high-water mark, and vary from four to eight feet in diameter. They are of limestone, and are stratified like the mainland."

There are in all about one hundred islands, though it is usually stated that there are three times as many. Not more than sixteen or twenty are inhabited, and of these the five largest are St. David's, St. George's, Bermuda proper, Somerset, and Ireland. They are about fifteen miles in length, and the

greatest breadth is about five miles. There are no mountains, no rivers, and so, while they are without magnificence in scenery, in a quiet sort of beauty they are unique.

There are about one hundred and fifty miles of good hard roads, which are generally free from dust. The scenery is exceedingly picturesque, and changes continually. Now you drive through wide stretches of country, and the landscape bears a striking resemblance to that of Canada; then through a narrow road, with high walls of rock on either hand, on the sides of which the maiden-hair fern grows in profusion, and the road is so winding that every new view which bursts suddenly upon you is a surprise; and then there are delightful glimpses of the sea, with its many islands. Walls of stone extend along the roadside, and over them clamber the morning-glory and prickly-pear, and the night-blooming cereus. Great beds of geraniums, which mock our hothouses in their profusion, grow wild. Hedges

FOOT OF GIBBS HILL LIGHTHOUSE.

GIBBS HILL LIGHTHOUSE, HAMILTON, BERMUDA.

of oleander line the roads or border cultivated patches of land, protecting them from the high winds which at times sweep over the islands. Thirteen varieties of it are found here, and wherever you go it is one mass of pink and white blossoms. The lantana also grows wild along all the hedges. The passion-flower peeps out from its covert of.green leaves, creeping up the branches of tall trees. The profusion of flowers is wonderful. The winter is the regal time for them. About Christmas the roses, magnificent in size, and of great variety, are in all their glory. One gentleman states that he has upward of one hundred and fifty varieties.

The beauty and variety of flowers are fully equalled by the excellence and diversity of fruits. Oranges of superior quality are raised, though their culture is not general. The lemon grows wild. The mango, guava, papaw, pomegranate, fig, arocada pear, all grow

The land is quite generally inclosed by the oleander, and to prevent inroads upon it all creatures that feed out-of-doors, from a hen to a cow, are usually tied. The poor things

NEPTUNE'S GROTTO,

bestowed upon the islands, and it would seem as if his spirit still floats over them, so thoroughly Spanish are the outward characteristics; and in no place is this more marked than in the quaint old town of St. George's. The harbour is beautiful, and much more accessible than that of Hamilton. On its most commanding height are strong fortifications, and the work now in progress is said to be particularly fine. There are barracks all over the hill, and soldiers lounging about wherever you go. During the American civil war St. George's was a busy town, being a great resort for blockade runners.

From St. George's to Hamilton there is a fine ocean drive of eight or nine miles. Going by Harrington Sound you will pass Neptune's Grotto. There are many varieties of fish, and the spectacle is as pleasing as it is novel. These ponds, on a small scale, are quite numerous throughout Bermuda. Like most limestone countries, Bermuda abounds in caves, and nowhere are they more beautiful than in Walsingham, not far from Neptune's Grotto, on the road leading around Harrington Sound, one of the loveliest sheets of water imaginable.

travelling through Bermuda houghts continually revert

The name of old Juan z, its discoverer, has been

The whole region is singularly attractive. Mimic lakes, reflecting the varied hues of the rocks which enclose them, with

trees over

hanging their banks, teem with fish wonderful in variety and colour,

whose motions are the very ideal of grace. By-paths through the tangled wildwood lead one through a wilderness of beauty. Nature has