336 



THE CRUISE OF THE ' CVBAQOA: 



two exceptious, low-pitfhcd, and have all their rooms on 

 tlie ground floor. Tlie greater part of tliem appear to be 

 grog-shops, cafes, or stores ; of the latter I think the best 

 belongs to Martin, an Englishman ; there is another kept by 

 Gubcrt. a Frenchman ; bnt both verj' indifferent, and 

 something like the common run of those I saw in New 

 Zealand. The Imperial Hotel, said to be tlie only hotel 



rOltT-DE-FIlAXCE, FROM SIGKAL lUIX. 



in the place, is kept by an Englishwoman called Madame 

 Beck. There are a good many straggUng houses on the 

 outskirts of the town by the Marine Artillery barracks. 

 The quarters for the troops are near Government House. 

 There are, I believe, about 1,000 men here, counting the 

 Marine Artillery. There is only one church that I know 

 of, and it is very small and built of wood. Almost the 

 best house in the place is the priests' on the hill, not very 

 far from the Governor's. The roads and almost everything 



