• 836 -l ST. IIELEi\A-ASCENSIOK 







In my walks I passed more than once over the grassy plain 

 bounded by deep valleys, on which Longwood stands. Viewed 

 from a short distance, it appears like a respectable gentleman's 

 country-seat. In front there are a few cultivated fields, and 

 jeyond them the smooth hill of coloured rocks called the Flag- 

 staff, and the rugged square black mass of the Barn. On the 

 whole the view was rather bleak and uninteresting The onlv 

 inconvenience I suffered during my walks was from the impe- 

 tuous winds. One day I noticed a curious circumstance : stand- 

 ing on the edge of a plain, terminated by a great cliff of about a 

 thousand feet in depth, I saw at the distance of a few yards 

 right to windward, some tern, struggling against a very stron- 

 breeze, whilst, where I stood, the air was quite calm Ap° 

 preaching close to the brink, where the current seemed to be 

 deflected upwards from the face of the cliff, I stretched out my 

 arm, and immediately felt the full force of the wind : an invisible 

 barrier, two yards in width, separated perfectly calm air from a 

 strong blast. 



I so much enjoyed my rambles among the rocks and moun- 

 tains of St. Helena, that I felt almost sorry on the morning of 

 the 14th to descend to the town. Before noon I was on board 

 and the Beagle made sail. 



On the 19th of July we reached Ascension. Those who have 

 beheld a volcanic island, situated under an arid climate, will at 

 once be able to picture to themselves the appearance of Ascen- 

 sion, lhey will imagine smooth conical hills of a bright red 

 colour, with their summits generally truncated, rising separately 

 out of a level surface of black rugged lava. A principal mound 

 n the centre of the island, seems the father of the lesser cones 

 ~ Gree ? Hil1 ' its n ^™ being taken from the faintest 

 tmge of that colour, which at this time of the year is barelv 

 perceptible from the anchorage. To complete the desolate scene; 

 he black rocks on the coast are lashed by a wild and turbulent 



.„ It T ] i me T i"? 1 ' tHe beaCh ' h COnskts of SCT <™1 houses 

 Md barracks placed .rregularly, but well built of white free- 



UwJf °" J ' lnbabitants are mari »<*, and some negroes 

 liberated from slave-ships, who are paid and victualled by govU- 



