in architecture, a small round moulding, less than an astragal, and so called from the resemblance it bears to a ring.

BAHAMA ISLANDS, called also the Lucaya islands, the easternmost of all the Antilles, or Carribbees, lying in the Atlantic ocean, stretching from north-east to south-west, between the 21st and 28th degree of north latitude, and between 72 and 81 degrees of west longitude. They are very numerous; but only 12 are particularly noticed by geographers, because the dangers attending the navigation among them are so great, that many of them have scarce ever been visited by Europeans.

It was upon one of these, to which he gave the name of St Salvadore, that Columbus first landed when he discovered America. Banzoni, one of the first navigators, says, that the sailor, who on this occasion first discovered land, and called out that he saw a fire, was denied the reward promised to the first discoverer, under a pretence that the same had been discovered by Columbus two hours before; and that for this reason the sailor afterwards went into Africa, and turned Mahometan.

Columbus perceiving that this island was but small, and the inhabitants poor, immediately set sail in quest of richer countries, and the Bahama islands were afterwards totally neglected by the Spaniards. In 1667, one Captain Sayle, an Englishman, was forced upon the island of St Salvadore, now Providence, by fires of weather; and upon his return to England, made so favourable a report of the Bahama islands in general to his employers the proprietors of Carolina, that six of them obtained a grant for the island of Providence, and the Bahama islands in general, between the latitudes of 22 and 27 degrees. The names of their first proprietors were George duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, Sir George Carteret, John Lord Berkeley, Anthony Lord Ashley, and Sir Peter Colliton. But though this was the first legal settlement that had been made of these islands, they had long before (particularly the island of Providence) been a shelter for pirates, and other disorderly people, who lived either by plundering the wrecks of ships, or supplying with spirits, &c., the ships that happened to touch there.

In 1672, Captain Sayle paid another visit to Providence island; and on his return made the government so sensible of the advantages that would accrue to England England from the possession of the Bahama islands in general, that they resolved to send thither a governor and some settlers; and the first governor sent thither was one Mr Chillingworth, a gentleman of capacity and character. By this time the natives of the Bahamas had been either butchered or carried off by the Spaniards or pirates; and Mr Chillingworth, on his arrival, found he had a very unruly set of men to deal with. England was at that time overrun with dissolute people of both sexes; who, embracing the encouragement given by government, shipped themselves off for Providence in great numbers; and these meeting with the pirates and coasters already settled there, the whole formed so ungovernable a colony, that Mr Chillingworth, in endeavouring to reclaim them, was himself forced off to Jamaica, and an unrestrained anarchy ensued among the settlers. These disorders continued for some years; neither the government, nor the proprietors, thinking it worth while to be at the expense of checking them. At last, one Mr Clark accepted of a proprietary commission to be governor; but the Spaniards, who had all along fomented the disorders, no sooner understood that the English intended to retake the island, than they invaded it, destroyed all the stock, and burnt the houses of the inhabitants. It is even said, that, having carried off the governor in chains, they afterwards cruelly put him to death.

After this depopulation, the island of Providence, and all the other Bahamas, were abandoned; the English removing to Carolina and other American settlements. At the time this disaster happened, the principal town of the island, since called Nassau, consisted of 150 houses. The vast consequence of the situation of these islands, however, especially in time of war, prompted a great number of people to come thither again, both from England and the continent of America. By the year 1690, New Providence became so populous, that the proprietors thought fit to appoint one Cadwallader Jones to be their governor; and he accordingly arrived there on the 19th of June that year.

According to all accounts, this governor Jones was of a very rough arbitrary disposition; and as the people he was sent to govern retained pretty much the spirit of their predecessors, it was no wonder that there were frequent quarrels between them. At last, Jones being impeached of high treason by one Bulkley, was thrown into prison, where he lay for some time; but afterwards was released, and Bulkley imprisoned. However, the proprietors finding it would be highly improper to continue Jones in his government, removed him, and appointed one Trott to succeed him. Under governor Trott the town of Nassau recovered its former size; its houses amounting to 160; and having a fort for its protection, on which were mounted 28 guns besides demi-culverins.

In 1697 the proprietors, with the consent of king William, appointed Nicholas Webb, Esq; to the government of the Bahama islands; and, in this gentleman's time, New Providence enjoyed a state of tolerable tranquillity, and was reckoned to contain about 400 negroes. One Mr Lightfoot, who was afterwards governor, endeavoured to set up a sugar-work on New Providence, for which the soil was extremely proper; but the means taken by a good governor for the improvement of this perverse colony, proved the very means of weakening it: for the pirates, finding now no longer any harbour in the Bahama islands, no longer spent their money there; and the inhabitants being at the same time restrained from the cruel practice of plundering wrecks, grew poor and discontented. Perpetual altercations now happening between them and their governors, their differences were by the Lords proprietors generally referred to the government of South Carolina; which equally discontented the governor and people, both complaining that they were treated only as a dependent province of that colony.

In this untoward situation matters continued till the year 1700, when one Elias Hackett was promoted to the government of the Bahama islands. But he was scarcely settled when the inhabitants put him in irons, and sent him off the island, choosing by their own authority Ellis Lightfoot, Esq; to succeed him. On this occasion the proprietors showed no resentment, and Lightfoot remained in possession of the government till 1703. At that time the dissensions which prevailed at New Providence, encouraged the French and Spaniards to make a descent upon it from Petit Guaves. The island was then completely ruined; the town of Nassau was burnt, the fort dismantled, its guns nailed up, and the governor with half the negroes carried off. As to the white inhabitants, their enemies took very little concern about them, and they retired to the woods till the danger was over. Returning from thence, and finding the island entirely ruined, they found means to remove themselves to other settlements. So little care did the proprietors take all this time of the affairs of New Providence, that they did not even know the catastrophe that had befallen them; nay, they even named one Birch, to supersede Lightfoot; but when he came thither, he found the island entirely abandoned, so he was obliged to return.

After this the Bahama islands became once more the residence of pirates and free-booters of all kinds, and of all nations, especially the English and Irish, who committed more depredations on the British trade than both the French and Spaniards. At last, upon an address of the House of Lords, king George I gave orders for fortifying and settling the island of Providence, and expelling these robbers. The plan was committed to Captain Woods Rogers, a celebrated navigator, who in the year 1718 sailed as governor of Providence, with a force sufficient to reduce the pirates. Before his arrival, governor Bennet of Bermudas had sent a flotilla to Providence, requiring the pirates to surrender themselves, by which they were entitled to a late proclamation of pardon. About 150 of the pirates, among whom were several of their captains, gladly accepted of this summons, and surrendered themselves. Upon the arrival of Captain Rogers at this island in 1718, he found about 300 men capable of bearing arms; many of whom had been pirates themselves, and none of them under any apprehensions from that wicked fraternity; but all of them determined in the most resolute manner to defend themselves against the French and Spaniards; which, by the assistance of 100 regulars the captain had brought with him, they were very soon enabled to do.

The first measure of Rogers's government was to read his Majesty's commission to himself in presence of all the inhabitants of the island; after which he admitted mitted to the benefit of the proclamation about 200 of the remaining pirates that surrendered themselves.

In settling his council, he nominated six adventurers who attended him from England; and had the good fortune to meet also with six inhabitants of the island, who pretended they had never been pirates, upon which he admitted them likewise. He himself had been appointed captain of the independent company that came with him from England; and the judge of the admiralty, the collector of customs, the chief justice, the secretary, the registrar, the provost marshal and officers, had all their commissions from England. Under his government the colony throve so well, that in a short time the number of white people amounted to 1500; and so sensible was government of his services, that when he returned to England in 1721 to solicit some supplies, he received a new commission as governor, and had a salary of £400 a-year settled upon him. Captain Rogers indeed had interested himself so much in the affairs of his colony, that he greatly hurt his own circumstances; for the Spaniards having twice attacked the Bahama islands with 2000 men, Mr Rogers defeated them without having any support from the other colonies, except what he engaged on his own personal credit. He died within two or three years after his return to his government; and since that time nothing remarkable has happened to these islands, only that the colonies on them have still continued to thrive.