Van Gerry

'smudge-pot Tales' Van Gerry

Stories from the hearts of Bahamians who live, love and laugh on the 700 islands and cays of an archepelago rainbowing south across the 'Shallow Sea'from the edge of the Gulf Stream to Hispaniola. 'Gloaming' is story-telling time in the 'settlements' of each island. Families and friends sit, eat, drink and yarn on the stoops of their colonial cottages, and smoke from smudge-pots keep mosquitoes and sand-flies at bay. Imaginations, alive with tales of 'alcoholic hogs'; 'Arawak Warriors';'loving dolphins; and 'ghastly ghosts' drift in the swirling haze, and the ambience holds innumerable audiences spell-bound. Pick up the book and catch a laugh with 'young Joe and Archie'; cringe as the 'Deveaux hound' gnashes his teeth at your heels; work on your MBA, as the 'Entrepreneurs' give their 'instruction' on 'business - Bahamian style; and shed a couple of tears at 'Old Tom's Landing'. You're in good company, so 'be no more a stranger'.