280 ' THE ATLANTIC. [ CHAP. Ly. 
observer, and deeply interested in the welfare of the colony, he 
was thoroughly acquainted with its physical conditions; and it 
was chiefly under his friendly guidance that we gathered what 
information we could during the short period of our stay. 
Mount Langton has perhaps the best situation on the island. 
It stands high near the north shore, and only a mile or so from 
Hamilton, the principal town. Successive governors have done 
a great deal in laying out and improving the grounds, and in 
introducing ornamental and economic plants suitable to the eli- 
mate; and General Lefroy especially has almost converted it 
into a jardin @acclimatisation. 
We had an excellent view of a great part of the islands from 
the signal station at Mount Langton. Bermudas is practically 
an “atoll,” or annular coral reef. The reef is about twenty-four 
miles in length by twelve in width. Its long axis extends from 
N.E. to S.W. It is situated in a region of variables, but the 
most prevalent and by far the most violent winds are from the 
S.W. The portion above the level of the sea stretches along 
the southern or weather side, and consists of a chain of five 
narrow islands and a multitude of islets and detached rocks, 
which raise the number of the elements of the archipelago to 
over three hundred. The edge of the reef on the lee side is 
under water, with here and there a ledge showing above it at 
low tide, and with a single rock, the “ North Rock,” rising to 
the height of sixteen feet. There are only two or three chan- 
nels through which vessels can come in through the reefs on the 
north side, and all of these are difficult. The best passage is 
that round St. Catherine’s Point and past Murray’s Anchorage, 
and so on to Grassy Bay, the usual rendezvous of her majesty’s 
ships. An unbroken reef stretches along the south shore about 
a quarter of a mile from the land, from one end of the islands 
to the other. The central portion of the reef forms an imper- 
fect lagoon, with an average depth of seven to eight fathoms. 
The general character of this atoll is much the same as that 
