A. E. VerrtU — The Bermuda Islands. 459 



stood at that time. Moreover his figures agree well with the con- 

 temporary descriptions by Governor Butler, as to the number of 

 guns in each fort and other particulars. Butler himself alludes to 

 such figures, probably the very ones published by Smith. 



Governor Lefroy, in his edition of Butler's "Historye," has 

 reprinted this illustration. Norwood's original maps of that period 

 are remarkably accurate. 



I have here reproduced some of the illustrations of. the old forts, 

 taken from Capt. John Smith's History. In the view of King's 

 Castle a vessel is represented as passing through the narrow channel, 

 under Gurnet Head, and Southampton Fort is shown on the other 

 side, as described by Governor Butler, who built it. But no attempt 

 has been made by the artist to show the actual form or height of 

 either island, or the width of. the channel, as compared with the size 

 of the ship and forts, for the channel here is perhaps a quarter of a 

 mile wide. It is, in fact, in these respects intended to be a mere 

 diagram, but it was probably also intended to give a fair idea of the 

 form and character of the forts or platforms themselves, and of the 

 redoubts or magazines, and more especialty the number of mounted 

 guns. 



Governor Butler states that Southampton Fort was the only one 

 properly planned and laid out for defence, and the illustration cer- 

 tainly shows a style of construction very different from any other, 

 and more like the larger forts of the Old World (fig. i^O). Its ruins 

 can now be seen, having nearly the form here represented. It is 

 enumerated as among the forts in use in 1077, in the statement 

 made by the Company, and it was still garrisoned in 1693. I have 

 found no mention of its having been repaired or rebuilt in later 

 times. Governor Lefroy (about 1870) speaks of it as showing its 

 original form, and in fair preservation, at that time. Scientifically 

 it is, therefore, of much more interest than the works on Castle 

 Island. 



The northern side of Castle Island was so high that boats could 

 not land there except at the foot of stairs cut out of the solid rocks. 

 These must have been used when the seas were beating on the 

 south side. There was also a well and windlass for hoisting freight 

 from boats on that side, where the cliff overhangs. Two large brick 

 water-cisterns, with their stone catchment platforms, on the slopes 

 of the hills, are still in pretty good condition, and are full of good 

 water, but they are probably not very ancient. (See plate Ixxix, 

 fig. 1, b, c.) 



