230 MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 



round and anchored in Porto Longone, a pretty harbour, 

 with high hills and a good deal of cultivation." 



Monte Cristo and Giglio 



"April iind. Most beautiful cloudless morning. 

 Steered for Monte Cristo with a light air from the 

 north. The eastern side of this ishmd is a sloping mass 

 of grey rock, with patches of green scrub here and there, 

 and one or two watercourses. W steamed slowly along 

 the northern side, near the western end of which is a 

 cove and valley, with a few houses and an old ruined 

 convent on a peak above them ; a good deal of cultiva- 

 tion, vineyards, figs, and ilexes. We went away in the 

 cutter and explored the whole of the western side, but 

 did not see a single rock pigeon. We found a good 

 many herring gulls, apparently breeding on a bit of table 

 land at the top of the cliffs, two or three shags, and two 

 pairs of peregrines which evidently had nests in the crags, 

 which are very high and full of most suitable ledges and 

 holes. We came off to the yacht about i p.m., and 

 steamed slowly along the south side ; the whole island 

 is extremely picturesque. We made away for Giglio from 

 the south-east end. 



" Giglio on the west side is high and rocky, but for 

 the greater part sloping to the sea, every available spot 

 terraced with vineyards and dotted with white cabins. 

 An ancient village lies on the top of the ridge ; the 

 south-west point is low, with a lighthouse, on rounding 



