CH. III. lEISH GUAEDIANS OF THE ROCK. 61 



fortress are strictly enforced at Gibraltar; and on this 

 account a naturalist wishing to explore the rock should 

 always apply for the previous permission of the Governor. 

 Not intending to remain more than a few hours, we had 

 declined the hospitable invitation of Sir W. F. Williams, 

 and not thought of obtaining an order to authorise our 

 unrestricted rambling over the rock. Towards evening 

 Ball had started with his tin box to examine the steep 

 eastern face that looks towards the Mediterranean. While 

 scrambling about in search of plants, he became aware 

 that his movements were watched by two Irish soldiers, 

 both decidedly the worse for liquor, and as he returned 

 towards the path the word ' spy ' was emphatically 

 pronounced more than once. Anticipating any fofther 

 unpleasant remarks, he addressed them some ordinary 

 question, with a fair infusion of that national accent that 

 is unmistakable to the Hibernian ear. The effect was im- 

 mediate : the men were delighted to recognise a country- 

 man ; question and answer rapidly succeeded, and the only 

 difBculty was to resist their pressing invitation to adjourn 

 to a neighbouring wine-shop, where the poor fellows' re- 

 maining intelligence would have been finally quenched in 

 the compound of grape-juice and ardent spirits that is sold 

 at Gibraltar as Spanish wine — not much worse, perhaps, 

 than the mixture that is drunk at home by not a few 

 persons boasting a refined taste under the name of pale 

 sherry. 



It seems natural to ask whether it is or is not true, as 

 one is often assured, that correct plans of all the chief 

 fortresses in Europe are to be found in the War Office of 

 each of the chief States ; for in such case the attempt 

 to maintain secrecy as against the ignorant curiosity of 

 travellers seems to be a puerile occupation for the military 

 authorities in command. 



The rock of Gibraltar and the sandy tract called 

 the Neutral Ground produce many rare and interesting- 

 plants; but these are already well known to botanists. 



