I've been re-reading Wind from the Carolinas by Robert Wilder, a historical novel about the British Loyalists from the South who sought a new life in the Bahamas following the American Revolution. They tried to recreate their plantation lifestyle in the British-ruled islands, importing all their possessions including their African slaves. But it didn't take long to discover that the sandy soil would not grow cotton or tobacco, and they could find no other profitable goods to export. Most families eventually gave up and returned to America or England, abandoning the slaves who were then freed to fend for themselves on the islands.

This morning Bernie took us on a hike across the island to visit his 76 year old friend Edward Lockhart, a descendant of Loyalists and their slaves. He was born and raised on Buena Vista but spent most of his life in Nassau, where his wife still lives. For the past eight years he's been living the life of a hermit here, together with his dog Rip and a bunch of chicken and goats. The weekly mailboat brings him supplies from Nassau. He told me proudly that he is descended from British Royal blood, and is here to commemorate the hard work, sweat and tears of his family so that it was not all in vain. His makeshift house is on the beach, not far from the ruins of the original settlers.