GOOD-BYE. 287 



lers by steamer, we remain a sufficient time at St. 

 Helena to allow of a somewhat hurried visit to Long- 

 wood ; and, going ashore with a good number of fellow- 

 passengers, we charter the few carriages and saddle- 

 horses to be had in the little town, and proceed, as fast 

 as we can, up the steep, zigzag road. We notice that 

 in this island there seem to be two completely different 

 climates within a very short distance of one another. 

 Down near the sea-level, bananas and other tropical 

 plants grow luxuriantly in the close, stifling heat : but 

 as we ascend we come into another climate ; the air is 

 almost cold, there is a fine, drizzling rain; blackberries, 

 bracken, and other home-like plants border the roadside, 

 and we might imagine ourselves in England, but for 

 the bright-hued little birds which peep fearlessly at us 

 from the bushes. Though the excursion is a most 

 enjoyable one, especially after being cooped up on 

 board ship, Longwood itself is disappointing, the house 

 being quite dismantled, and containing nothing but a 

 very beautiful bust of Napoleon, which has been placed 

 by his family in one of the rooms. 



Our passage is throughout a calm and prosperous one: 

 we have pleasant company on board ; there are none 

 of the cliques and small enmities which so often spoil 

 the enjoyment of a voyage ; some of the passengers 

 play and sing well ; good concerts and theatricals en- 

 liven many of our evenings ; and our only disappoint- 

 ment is the unkind fate which again brings us through 

 Madeira in the dark. And at last, one lovely April 

 morning which seems to have been made on purpose 



