252 THE ISLAND OF JERSEY. 



no less than three hundred and sixty-five inhabitants 

 to each. It has two towns, St. Heller, the capital, 

 and St. Aubin, both situated in the same bay, on 

 the southern coast of the island; several villages, 

 three forts or castles, Fort Regent, Fort Elizabeth, 

 and Fort Orgueil. The parishes are twelve in num- 

 ber, and these are so arranged, that each in some 

 parts communicates with the sea. The surface of 

 Jersey is uneven, being broken by several ranges of 

 mountains, which diverge from the northern chain, 

 and stretch to the south, gradually declining in hei^iht 

 along the whole extent. Their sides are often steep 

 and rugged, but are clothed in many parts with 

 thickly planted orchards, which add much to the 

 beauty of the scenery, and at a distance present the 

 appearance of one extensive forest. Between these 

 ridges lie deep and narrow valleys, watered by nu- 

 merous streams, with which no country is better 

 supplied. An old writer speaks of these as, " dainty 

 hills or rivulets, in which watery commodities, Jersey 

 liath questionless the precedency of Guernsey." 

 The trees are of small size, but abundant in number. 

 The land is subdivided into diminutive fields, and 

 the hedges all around are thickly planted. The 

 trees overhang the roads, which has given rise to a 

 curious custom. At stated times the judge, accom- 

 panied by some jurors, the constable, and twelve 

 chief men of the parish, proceed to perambulate the 

 highways. In front of the cavalcade rode the shenflT, 

 bearing his rod of office, the end resting on his saddle 

 bow ; if it touched a branch over head the owner of 

 the hedge was fined ; if any defect was found in the 

 road itself, the penalty was assessed on the overseer 

 of the district. The climate is exceedingly mild in 

 consequence of the southern situation and aspect of 

 the island, and the tem])erature being equalized by 

 the vicinity of the sea, frost never continues for any 

 length of time. Snow falls but seldom, and melts 

 immediately; and shrubs, which, in the southern 

 counties of England, require care and shelter, flourish 



