s, having come to the front as a winter resort, have led us
to inquire into their history and resources. Settled in 1612, Virginia
only of the English colonies outdating it, life in Bermuda has been as
placid as its lovely waters on a summer day; no agitation of sufficient
occurrence having occurred to attract the attention of the outside
world, from which it is so absolutely isolated.

The only communication with the mainland is by the Quebec Steamship
Company, who dispatch a steamer every alternate Thursday between New
York and Hamilton, Bermuda, the fare for the round trip, including meals
and stateroom, is fifty dollars. During the crop season, in the months
of April, May and June, steamers are run weekly.

The Cunard Company also have a monthly service between Halifax, Bermuda,
Turks Island and Jamaica, under contract with the Admiralty.

The Bermudas were first discovered in 1515 by a Spanish vessel, called
La Garza, on a voyage from Spain to Cuba, with a cargo of hogs, and
commanded by Juan Bermudez, and having on board Gonzalez Oviedo, the
historian of the Indies, to whom we are indebted for the first account
of these islands. They approached near to the islands, and from the
appearance of the place concluded that it was uninhabited. They resolved
to send a boat ashore to make observations, and leave a few hogs, which
might breed and be afterwards useful. When, however, they were preparing
to debark a strong contrary gale arose, which obliged them to sheer off
and be content with the view already obtained. The islands were named by
the Spaniards indifferently, La Garza from the ship and Bermuda from the
captain, but the former term is long since disused.

[Illustration: INSCRIPTION ON SPANISH ROCK]

It does not appear that the Spaniards made any attempt to settle there,
although Philip II. granted the islands to one Ferdinand Camelo, a
Portuguese, who never improved his gift, beyond taking possession by the
form of landing in 1543, and carving on a prominent cliff on the
southern shore of the island[A] the initials of his name and the year,
to which, in conformity with the practical zeal of the times, he
super-added a cross, to protect his acquisition from the encroachments
of roving heretics and the devil, for the stormy seas and dangerous
reefs gave rise to so many disasters as to render the group exceedingly
formidable in the eyes of the most experienced navigators. It was even
invested in their imaginati