152 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



Cadiz. The tower is riven, and it may be climbed along 

 tbe edges of the crack. We got to the top of it; thence 

 descended the curious Mediterranean Stair a zigzag, 

 mostly of steps down a steeply falling slope, amid 

 palmetto brush, aloes, and prickly pear. 



Passing over the Windmill Hill, we were joined at 

 the ' Governor's Cottage ' by a car, and drove afterwards 

 to the lighthouse at Europa Point. The tower was 

 built, I believe, by Queen Adelaide, and it contains a 

 fine dioptric apparatus of the first order, constructed by 

 Messrs. Chance, of Birmingham. At the appointed 

 hour we were at the Convent. During dinner the same 

 genial traits which appeared in the morning were still 

 more conspicuous. The freshness of the Governor's 

 nature showed itself best when he spoke of his old an- 

 tagonist in arms, Mouravieff. Chivalry in war is con- 

 sistent with its stern prosecution. These two men 

 were chivalrous, and after striking the last blow became 

 friends forever. Our kind and courteous reception at 

 Gibraltar is a thing to be remembered with pleasure. 



On December 15 we committed ourselves to the 

 Mediterranean. The views of Gibraltar with which we 

 are most acquainted represent it as a huge ridge; but 

 its aspect, end on, both from the Spanish lines and from 

 the other side, is truly noble. There is a sloping bank 

 of sand at the back of the rock, which I was disposed 

 to regard simply as the debris of the limestone. I 

 wished to let myself down upon it, but had not the time. 

 My friend Mr. Busk, however, assures me that it is 

 silica, and that the same sand constitutes the adjacent 

 neutral ground. There are theories afloat as to its hav- 

 ing been blown from Sahara. The Mediterranean 

 throughout this first day, and indeed throughout the 

 entire voyage to Oran, was of a less deep blue than the 

 Atlantic. Possibly the quantity of organisms may have 



