Ixxxii INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



at any of those points. Even admitting that the enemy's troops 

 got on shore and succeeded in carrying the fleur d'eau batteries, 

 they would then be exposed to inevitable destruction, from the 

 tremendous fire from the heights, and above all from the immense 

 quantities of grape (or even stones) that might be thrown (with 

 very small charges of powder) from howitzers and carronades of 

 large calibre placed upon the heights, against which it would be 

 wholly impossible to tind shelter. 



Besides the principal landing places above mentioned, there 

 are several ravines, or valiies, interspersed throughout the coast, 

 where an enemy might undoubtedly laud, if he were not opposed : 

 but, most Of" these are also protected by batteries ; or are so 

 easily defended by rolling stones from the heights, that no body 

 of troops attempting to gain the interior by these lavines could 

 have the smallest chance of success. 



Of those ravines, Captain Mitchell, an aide engineer, who was 

 sent to the island in 1765, gave the following description. 



" The ravines, or valUes (as they are impioperly called) are 

 extremely narrow, and remarkably rugged. They seem formed 

 by nature for carrying otf the torrents which precipitate them- 

 selves from the interior of the island ; and they all terminate 

 towards the coast in beaches, where an enemy, if not opposed, 

 might disembark without much difficulty. But the ascent being 

 extremely steep and rugged, and terminating at a great distance 

 from the coast, it would be impossible for an enemy to get into 

 the country, if ever so inconsiderably opposed. I will venture to 

 say that 500 men would be much more than a match for ten times 

 that number in this situation." 



I not only concur in this opinion, but I trust I shall make it 

 appear that two or three men stationed on the heights just above 

 the entrance of any of those ravines, would render it utterly 



