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 imagination with superstitious terrors, being considered as unapproachable by man, and given up in full dominion to the spirits of darkness.  The Spaniards therefore called them “Los Diabolos,” the Devil’s Islands.

[Footnote A:  This inscription is still in existence, the engraving shown herewith is a good representation of it, as it appears at the present time.]

[Illustration:  Fac-simile reproduction of a Map of Bermuda made in 1614 by Captain John Smith.]

[Illustration:  View of the State House and reference as to location of the fort, bridges, etc., shown herewith on Smith’s map of 1614.  (Fac-simile reproduction.)]