PORT LOUIS HARBOR. 257 



And now scarce has the last golden ray of the 

 departing sun gone down behind the distant moun- 

 tain tops, when night conceals the scene as with a 

 huge black cloth, through which shine myriads of 

 brilliant stars, brighter by far than ever rejoiced 

 the vision of him who dwells in northern lands 

 '' The eyes of God," whispered the mate to me, at) 

 I reclined upon the forecastle in silent contempla- 

 tion of the change. 



The entrance of Port Louis harbor is quite nar- 

 row, the ship channel being scarcely wide enough 

 to sail up with a iair wind. And as the prevail- 

 ing wind blows out of the harbor's mouth, steam- 

 digs have been found necessary to tow vessels in. 

 At early daylight one of these little boats, there 

 fore, took us in tow, and we glided rapidly up 

 through tiers of large vessels securely moored 

 head and stern, and with their top-hamper on deck, 

 to present as little resistance as might be to the 

 hurricane winds which occasionally sweep this 

 latitude. 



At the upper end of the harbor a basin, known 

 as the canal, has been built for the accommoda- 

 tion of the small traders and bullock droghers ; 

 and among these we now anchored, sending our 

 utein moorings ashore by large mooring boats, 

 .vhich are held in readiness for this service by .ae 

 captain of the port. 



Once moored, the topgallant and royal yards 

 find masts were sent upon deck and the topmast* 

 17 



