APPENDIX. 213 



where a skilful mountaineer might have climbed, by 

 clinging to the projecting parts of the rock, but portions 

 of a wall, already of an ancient date, now prevent all 

 attempts of this kind. The rocks of this part are full of 

 hollows and crevices, owing either to the geological revo- 

 lution which raised them, or the incessant action of storms 

 and wet winds to which they are constantly exposed. 

 Rain falls or a fog prevails here when the weather is dry 

 and fine at St. Roque, or even at the lines. Favoured by 

 the climate, a great number of plants grow in the hollows, 

 and under the shelter of stones; amongst others, I re- 

 marked Ruscus hypophyllum, Clematis cirrhosa, Vinca 

 media, Smyrnium olusatrum, and Acanthus mollis. I also 

 found some land-shells, whilst they are very rare on the 

 mountains of Andalusia, on account of the aridity ; the 

 Helix marmorata and H. signata were particularly abun- 

 dant. I will not attempt to describe the charming view 

 which I enjoyed from this isolated summit, over a conside- 

 rable extent of sea, and the varied surfaces of two conti- 

 nents. I arrived at the signal-station, situated about 

 halfway along the rock, from whence is noticed the 

 arrival and departure of vessels. After having rested a 

 few moments with the director, I descended to the town 

 by a rocky and uninteresting declivity, visiting, in passing, 

 some caverns, of which the roofs were covered with the 

 Umbilicus pendulinus, and the Acrostichum lanuginosum. 

 The following day I passed through the land-port gate 

 to explore the eastern side of the mountain, where I had 

 not been previously. That portion of the tongue of land 

 which forms a part of the English territory, is covered 

 with gardens, which are fertile, notwithstanding the na- 

 tural aridity of the soil, and are watered by means of 

 deep wells where the sea-water becomes purified. The 

 base of the rock was carpeted by a crowd of beautiful 

 plants, amongst which I discovered large tufts of the 



