The St. John River is the section most visited, together with St.
Augustine, on the Atlantic sea-coast; yet so soon as Tampa Bay and Key
West possess accommodations, they will be found more favorable, since
the equability is somewhat greater.[H]
There are several islands in the Atlantic Ocean to the south and eastward of us which have become somewhat celebrated as places of temporary residence for the consumptive.
That of
NASSAU (N.P.),
the nearest to our coast, has some claims upon our attention. The temperature does not greatly vary from that of Southern Florida, except that it may have a shade more of equability.
The island of New Providence, of which Nassau is the capital, is one of the group constituting the Bahama Islands, lying directly east of the Florida coast, and about three hundred and fifty miles distant from it. The town is regularly and well built, and during our "late unpleasantness" was the principal rendezvous of the scores of blockade-runners. Since the war the place has resumed its calm and peaceful habits, and is again frequented, during the winter, by many invalids from the North and others who seek a temporary home in a genial clime.
San Domingo, should it be annexed, will probably become a place of resort for many people, but at present, while its climate in winter is charming, and the country in the vicinity of Samana Bay beautiful, yet its accommodations are wretched, and likely to remain so for some time to come.
The benefits arising from the climate of these two islands is practically the same as in Florida, while the accommodations are not as extensive, though in Nassau are quite acceptable, though limited. Regular communication is had by steamer to and from New York once each month.
FAYAL,
two thousand miles eastward and near the coast of Spain, is little known to the American public, yet it has held a high character among the Europeans for several generations in the matter of its climate. This island forms one of the Azorean group, and possesses the finest harbor of them all. Horta, its capital, is located at the head of this harbor, and is quite a handsome town, situated on the southeastern side of the island.