OF GIBRALTAR. 5 



from the neutral ground. Near this terminating 

 point is placed the " Rock Mortal'," at an elevation 

 of thirteen hundred and fifty feet, and a little below it 

 is situated the " Rock Gun." 



The term " Neutral Ground" is often used to de- 

 signate the whole extent of the narrow isthmus which 

 joins Gibraltar to the main land; but properly speak- 

 ing, the actual neutral ground settled by convention, 

 is that portion which extends from our last line of 

 sentries, on the two north front guards, to the 

 line of Spanish sentries opposite, a space of about 

 half a mile in length. The extent of the isthmus 

 is about a mile and a quarter, of which only 

 about half a mile is attached to the fortress of 

 Gibraltar. A portion of this tract is cultivated > 

 with vegetables, and the rest kept in order for pa- 

 rades, racing, and cricketing. The burial-ground, 

 slaughter-house, dog-kennel, and a few small houses 

 for sappers and miners are also situated here, but 

 very few private dwellings are allowed. At one 

 period a small village stood here, but as it har- 

 boured many mauvais sujets under the walls of 

 the garrison, it was deemed necessary to demolish 

 the whole of the houses, &c. During epidemics, 

 detachments of the military were quartered in this 

 locality under tents, as it is considered more salu- 

 brious than within the garrison. 



Botanists ought to feel obliged to the authorities 

 for the extreme care taken of this locality, in which 

 plants of very interesting kinds find a protected and 

 well-manured bed, much, however, to the annoyance 



