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TRAVELS WITH ANGEL
True Treasures of the Bahamas:
On Location on Great Guana Cay to
Man-O-War Cay’s Atlantic-side Beaches
By Rebecca Burg
“Look what I found!” Darnell
said, triumphantly holding up
a sand dollar. “It was just
sitting there on a rock.”
Escape’s crew Tom (right) and Babette
on Great Guana Beach with Bill.
Capt. Pat and Darnell, on the sailing vessel Island
Dream, came from Louisiana for a new adventure.
Beachcombing with a group of other
boaters was just one of the activities they enjoyed.
Darnell’s 15-year-old niece, Morgan, and her dad flew
in to join the fun for a while. A cluster of cruisers were
anchored in the sandy bottom of Baker’s Bay, on the
northwest end of Great Guana Cay, Abacos. The nearby
Shell Island and the Atlantic side of the beach were
explored.
Morgan hoped to find sea glass—stone-sized bits of
glass that have been tumbled smooth by reef, sand and
surf, then washed up on the beaches. Resembling pieces
of sugared candy, sea glass comes in jewel-like tones of
emerald, white, pastel browns and the less common blue
and violet colors. Sea glass with a delicate violet hue is
originally from clear glassware that’s over 50 years old.
This antique glass used to be made with a mineral additive
that turns purple after years of outdoor exposure.
Babette from Escape was one of the lucky ones and stumbled
on a rare treasure of the purple kind. Bahamian artisans
will incorporate antique sea glass into elegant, highend
jewelry, and cruisers enjoy making their own creative
works out of the gem-like pieces.
In the past, a few fortunate Bahamians
have found gold Spanish coins washed up on
an out-island beach after a storm. After the
Spanish raided Mexico in the 1500s, it wasn’t
unusual for the occasional treasure-laden ship
to be blown astray or sunk along the trade
route back to Spain. To date, more treasure lies
in the sea than has ever been found. In the
1600s-1700s, pirates and their secret stashes of
valuables frequented the Bahamas. These water-bound outlaws
made Nassau their headquarters for a time, and they
were such a presence that an early 1700s Bahamian coat of
arms reads, “Expel the pirates and restore commerce.”
Blackbeard hung out in Nassau and, unfortunately, took the
location of his treasure hoard to his grave.
We didn’t come across any pirate treasure or Spanish
gold coins, but it’s still fun to look. Other treasures were
found. Darnell and Morgan had a jar full of bright shells
while Pat was content to be immersed in the exotic setting
with a mug of his favorite drink in hand. Along with the sea
glass, Babette found a ball of colored rope and driftwood to
use for a craft project. I found two attractive cone-shaped
shells, but when they were held up in my palm to be
admired, they promptly rolled upright and marched off my
hand. Their hermit crab occupants had other plans. Beware
of the shell that looks back at you.
Bill found the bottom half of an antique bottle that had
layers of coral growth encrusted on it and Tom, of Escape,
tried to get a photo of a red land crab. When the crab raised
its claws and threatened to twitch, Babette was ready to bolt
up the nearest palm tree. The idea of that wily critter skittering
across one’s feet or up a leg just didn’t generate a sense
of comfort. We also came across more enigmatic finds along
42 February 2007 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com