KINGSTON AND PORT EOYAL, 19 



to place. My mind was full of Columbus, and of his 

 feelings on that eventful night, when the coast of 

 Guanahani lay spread out before him with its moving 

 lights, and proud anticipations. With curiosity and 

 hope, somewhat analogous ['parva componere magnis), 

 did I contemplate the tropical island before me, its 

 romance heightened by the indefiniteness and ob- 

 scurity in which it lay. I was on deck several times 

 during the night, and during the intervals was still 

 engaged, in dreams, in endeavouring to penetrate the 

 darkness of the shore. 



KINGSTON AND PORT ROYAL. 



At day-break (Dec. 5th) we found ourselves oiF 

 the mouth of Kingston Harbour, becalmed. How 

 lovely was the scene ! The sea was of crystal clear- 

 ness, allowing the eye to penetrate far into its depth 

 beneath the shadow of the ship's stern ; while all 

 around, sleeping in the perfect calm, it reflected the 

 heavens like a plate of steel. No clouds broke the 

 uniformity of that reflection ; but all above was clear 

 transparent blue, already sufi'using with brightness in 

 the seaward horizon. Before ns stretched away on 

 either hand the beauteous island, with its many 

 mountain ridges, showing their purple summits in re- 

 ceding succession. But one object instantly arrested 

 the eye, and long detained it ; right over against us, 

 apparently overhanging the city of Kingston, towered 

 in its giant grandeur the Peak which I had seen the 

 evening before. It seemed close at hand, from its 

 vastness ; though its uniform blue hue told on re- 



