ST. HELENA. 285 



from the Port. We stayed at this delightful place 

 two days : standing nearly 800 feet above the sea, 

 the air was cool and fresh, and on every side there 

 were delightful walks. Close by, a grand ravine 

 has been worn to a depth of about 500 feet through 

 the slightly-inclined streams of lava which have 

 flowed from the central platform. 



bth. — Captain Lloyd took us to the Riviere 

 Noire, which is several miles to the southward, 

 that I might examine some rocks of elevated coral. 

 We passed through pleasant gardens and fine 

 fields of sugar-cane growing amidst huge blocks of 

 lava. The roads were bordered by hedges of Mi- 

 mosa, and near many of the houses there were av- 

 enues of the mango. Some of the views, where 

 the peaked hills and the cultivated farms were 

 seen together, were exceedingly picturesque, and 

 we were constantly tempted to exclaim, " How 

 pleasant it would be to pass one's life in such quiet 

 abodes !" Captain Lloyd possessed an elephant, 

 and he sent it half way with us, that we might en- 

 joy a ride in true Indian fashion. The circum- 

 stance which surpi'ised me most was its quite 

 noiseless step. This elephant is the only one at 

 present on the island, but it is said others will be 

 sent for. 



May 9th. — We sailed from Port Louis, and, 

 calling at the Cape of Good Hope, on the 8th of 

 July we arrived off St. Helena. This island, the 

 forbidding aspect of which has been so often de- 

 scribed, rises abruptly, like a huge black castle, 

 from the ocean. Near the town, as if to complete 

 nature's defence, small forts and guns fill up every 

 gap in the rugged rocks. The town runs up a 

 flat and narrow valley ; the houses look respecta- 

 ble, and are interspersed with a very few green 



