186 VEGETATION OF THE 



present exists between the English residents of Gib- 

 raltar and the Spaniards in the neighbourhood ; many 

 English families, chiefly of the mercantile classes, 

 reside in St. Roque during the summer months, and 

 a few even make it their permanent residence. Offi- 

 cers from our garrison are daily seen in St. Roque, 

 partaking of the good fare which Mr. M'Crae 

 (landlord of the English hotel) provides for appetites 

 made keen by a delightful ride, or after a long day's 

 tally-ho ! across the wild mountain plains in the Cork- 

 wood. However refreshing the air of St. Roque may 

 be to invalids, it is necessary to be cautious not to 

 venture too far in the too tempting fields, which are 

 sometimes fraught with dead malaria. Those who 

 go to St. Roque for change of air are frequently 

 brought into Gibraltar the victims of ague and remit- 

 tent fever ; the botanist must, however, take his 

 chance of both, for where the choicest flowers grow, 

 there also, in most instances, do diseases find a suita- 

 ble bed; he must, if possible, choose his night's 

 lodgings, which very often is impracticable ; but the 

 safest plan would be to make St. Roque or Algesiras 

 his head-quarters. The towns of Gaucin, Los Bar- 

 rios, &c. will also afford him a safe shelter from 

 pestiferous vapours ; but he must make up his mind 

 to suffer heroically from " small disquietudes and 

 insect stings" 



A pathway leads from the Alameda of St. Roque 

 to the Corkwood, which, passing through cultivated 

 fields, goes over loftier hills, covered with red, white, 

 and yellow blossoms of various species of Cistus, of 



