24S DIRECTIONS FOi; TOUmSTS, 



meiit at the end of this vohuue ; also trips liy them suhseqnently 

 given.) 



ST. JOHN'S— FINE KNTKAMCE TO ITS HAKBOUK. 



For pictures(j^ueness of situation tliere is no otlier city in North 

 America to compare with St. J(jlin's, tlie capital of the island. 

 All travellers who visit it admire the striking ai)proacli to the 

 harltour, and the fine view on entering its waters. As tlie 

 voyager, coming northward from Cape Race, sails along the grim,- 

 iron-bound coast wliose rocks, two to four hundred feet high, 

 fling back in defiance the great Atlantic rollers, the steamer 

 suddeidy turns her prow shoreward as if to dash herself againt^t 

 the dark cliffs. In a few minutes a nariow opening in the rocky 

 wall is seen, as if, by some convulsion of nature, the great ram- 

 part had been rent asunder and the sea liad rushed in. As tlie 

 vessel glides through this cleft the ii-avdler looks up, not with- 

 out a touch of awe, at the great cliffs of dark red sandstone piled 

 in broken masses on a foundation of gray slate rock. On liis 

 right he sees an almost perpendicular precipice, 300 feet in 

 height, above which rises, with almost equal steepness, the crest 

 of Signal Hill, 520 fpet above tlie level of the sea, on which 

 stands the "Block House" for signalling vessels as they approach 

 the harbour. On the left, the rugged hill attains a height of 600' 

 feet. From its base a rocky promontory juts out, forming the 

 entrance of the Narrows on one side. On the summit of this 

 projection is Fort Amherst Light-house, where is heard tlie 

 hoarse music of the restless Atlantic whose waves break on the 

 rocks lieneath. The scene is grand and impressi\-e. 



THE NAllKOWS. 



Formerly batteries, armed witli ibrmidable Armstrong guns, 

 rose one over the other, on the projecting shoulders and narrow 

 platforms of the surrounding clilfs ; but years ago the small 

 garrison was withdrawn, and the cannon removed. The Nar- 

 rows, or channel leading to the harbour, is nearly half a mile in 

 length ; and it is not till two-thirds of it are passed that the city 

 itself opens to view. At the termination of the Narrows the 



