Ch. XXIV.] VEGETATION ABOUT JAMES TOWN. 419 



One magnificent cliff of black basalt was particujarly strik- 

 ing as we rounded the eastern comer of the island, having 

 numerous overhangiag ledges and ridges of various lengths 

 running along its face. In two or three spots forts had 

 been built, connected by covered ways, while at the base of 

 the rock large caverns were excavated, into which the waves 

 dashed, casting the spray into their arched depths. 



James Town is situated in a narrow gorge which winds 

 between two lofty barren hills, and extends fully a mile in- 

 land, where the gorge terminates in a cul-de-sac, at the 

 bottom of which is situated " The Briars," a pretty cluster 

 of buildings, where Napoleon took up Ms residence upon his 

 first arrival in the island. In the valley are gardens with 

 cocoa nuts and bananas, which form a pleasant relief to the 

 great barren wall of rock everywhere overhangiag it. Pur- 

 suing the path which winds up the left side of the valley, the 

 rocks are seen to be covered with the prickly pear (Opuntia), 

 which I had remarked as a naturalized plant at the Cape, 

 and is here in great abundance, having the reputation of 

 being an importation firom the West Indies. Mingled with 

 it were great numbers of scarlet geraniums (Pelargonium), 

 now in full bloom. White Daturse (May-apple) and other 

 plants grew by the road-side, and at the top of the ridge were 

 pretty and shady woods of wiUows, with bushes of Buddlea, 

 the open spots being covered with real English gorse (Ulex 

 europsea) full of yellow blossoms, and growing in a good rich 

 soil. 



From this hill could be seen those points which render 

 the island historically interesting in connection with Na- 

 poleon Bonaparte. Looking across a most desolate valley, 

 the bottom of which was deep and dark, the cluster of bmld- 

 iags constituting Longwood might be seen peeping out of a- 



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