76 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



men or smugglers. L'lle Verte, situated on the 

 eastern margin of the archipelago, even possessed at 

 one time a monastery, which was dependent upon the 

 rich Abbey of Beauport. Without being able to define 

 the precise period when this religious asylum was 

 founded, it is easy to see from the mere appearance 

 of the ruins that it must have been erected, probably 

 in times of trouble, to serve the purpose of a citadel 

 quite as much as of a convent. The buildings 

 occupy the entire surface of the island, and look 

 down from every side upon a deep precipice. Even 

 at low tide, the rocks on which they are placed are 

 almost entirely encompassed by the waves and 

 washed by impetuous currents. The only point of 

 approach is guarded by two large isolated rocks, 

 which serve the purpose of a breakwater ; and here 

 the remains of two parallel dykes formed by enormous 

 blocks of unhewn stone still mark the position of the 

 landing place. A steep ascent led from the shore to 

 a narrow and arched postern door cut in a wall, nearly 

 ten feet in thickness. 



This solitary means of entrance was guarded on 

 either side by two towers, whose foundations may 

 still be traced among broken stones and rampant 

 weeds. A straight path leading directly from the 

 door divided the extensive range of buildings into 

 two nearly equal parts. No portion of this ancient 

 edifice is standing : the path of which I have spoken 

 is choked with brambles and fennel; while waving 

 corn and straggling peas and beans have usurped the 

 place of vast halls, whose site may still be traced by 

 the pieces of wall which yet remain. At the ex- 



