JAMES TOWN. 241 



battery, heavily mounted witli cannon, and situ- 

 ated in front of the town. Here I observed 

 a grove of trees, the Ficus religiosa, whose pre- 

 sence afforded an agreeable shade : it is a tree 

 usually seen planted in India about the Hindoo 

 temples, and held in veneration by the natives. 

 Passing through a gate, we entered the es- 

 planade, in which the government-house and 

 garden and the church are situated. The prin- 

 cipal streets and shops of the town, and some 

 very neat houses in the English style, attract the 

 attention of the visitor. 



The extent of the town (from being built in a 

 narrow, receding valley) cannot be seen until 

 the ascent of the Longwood road is gained, when 

 it gradually opens, — and the barracks, hospital, 

 and houses, surrounded by neat gardens, in the 

 villa style of architecture, have a very pleasing 

 effect, more particularly by contrast, as the tow- 

 ering, rugged rocks, on each side, are destitute 

 of any verdure. 



Although buildings, language, manners, cus- 

 toms, &c., are all English, yet the number 

 of black and tawny people gives a foreign 

 appearance to the place ; nor was our sur- 

 prise lessened, by walking in the evening about 

 the town, to observe the incredible number 

 of children, of all the variety of tints between 



