Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 66.djvu/401

Rh the Maine coast. Government House, on Mount Langton—the residence of the governor of the islands—is a conspicuous building on the crest of the ridge which hides the city of Hamilton from the approaching voyager.

After a long and rather circuitous course through the only channel available for steamers, and under the guns of several forts, one at length enters Hamilton Harbor between two rocks that are not far enough apart to allow the passage of two ships abreast. The still unfinished cathedral, two modern hotels for the accommodation of winter tourists, and the parliament house are the most conspicuous buildings in Hamilton, being situated on the highest part of the slope occupied by the town (Fig. 1).

The substantial city dock, with its low, unattractive sheds roofed in by arched and corrugated metal, extends along the whole water front.

Beyond the sheds runs Front Street (Fig. 2) parallel to the shore. Across the street from the sheds are the chief business houses of the town; some of them having a modern look, but the greater part of them with small windows and heavy solid wooden shutters that recall the northern country store of fifty or seventy-five years ago. Unlike the country store, however, the Bermuda store has a two-story portico extending out over the side-walk, so that the pedestrian is partly sheltered by it from the heat of the sun or the sudden down-pour of the unannounced shower that is so characteristic of the islands. The second story of this portico, like most of the dwellings (compare Fig. 3), is enclosed by shutters with immovable slats, which keep out heat and rain, but permit a free circulation of air within. The vehicles in the street range from the modern rubber-tired victoria to the low two wheel cart drawn by horse, mule or ox.