238 CITY OF QUELPART. [1845. 



which appeared to have been satisfactorily arranged, and 

 the horses led out in readiness to mount. Still some un- 

 seen difficulty seemed to cause a restlessness amongst the 

 chiefs, whilst messengers were repeatedly passing between 

 them and the city. I shall therefore take advantage of 

 this pause, and describe the outer parts of the capital of 

 Quelpart. 



The space on which the city stands, is in a broad 

 valley, situated about the centre of the northern coast- 

 line, having a conspicuous flat eminence on its eastern side, 

 and a small river, or copious stream, on the west. The 

 country immediately surrounding it on all sides, being 

 peculiarly barren. The city wall, on the face exposed to 

 the sea, occupies a line of about 500 yards, containing 

 seven bastions, apparently with embrasures throughout ; 

 but no guns were noticed, excepting in these bastions, and 

 from their report, when saluting, of no importance. The 

 depth of the walls, which form a parallellogram, is about 

 200 yards. The main gates, which are inland, and sea- 

 ward, are in recesses formed by two of the bastions, with 

 apparently one additional gate on the eastern angle. The 

 height of the walls is about twenty-five feet, and from 

 their structure here, as well as in other parts of the 

 island, I am induced to believe are of European design. 

 They are unlike the works of China or Loo-Choo, and 

 manifestly convey the impression of a knowledge of the 

 art of defence. Their present condition and appearance, 

 added to the slovenly manner of repairs, where attempted, 

 tend to confirm the opinion, that they were designed by 

 a more warlike people, and that the present race have 

 neither the tact for keeping them in a condition for 



