228 ILE STE. MARGUERITE. 



inflorescences which were a \'ard high and much branched. 

 Thus we were surrounded b\' classical plants — the Fe- 

 rula, whose pith smoulders like tinder and is said to have 

 been used b\' Prometheus in order to steal the fire from 

 Olympus; and the Asphodel \\'hich Conns meadows in the 

 nether world where Minos holds jurisdiction over souls. 

 We enjoyed a singularly pretty view of the opposite coast 

 framed, as it were, by these plants. Stretched out before 

 us lav Cannes, cocjuettishh' gav in the brilliant sunshine. 

 The snowy masses of the Alps seemed to be floating in 

 the air beAond Golte Jouan, veiled in that briglit blue 

 mist peculiar to the sk^^ of Provence. From the blue ex- 

 panse of sea and the green hills of the coast the land- 

 scape rises step b^' step, culminating in the grand snow- 

 capped giants of the Alps. It reejuired some resolution 

 to tear oneself awa\- from this spot and to continue the 

 excursion to the opposite shore of the island. An a^■enue 

 of Eucalyptus trees leads through the Pine wood, at the 

 end of which the boat awaits us. 



Immediateh' in front of us now la\- the island 

 of St. Honorat, separated from Ste. Marguerite onh- 

 by a narrow channel. Most enjoyable is the passage 

 across the shallow water whose a/.ure tones blend 

 with the colours of the clear sea -bottom, of the dark 

 ledges of rock, bright patches of ^Algae, and green 

 meadows of Grass-wrack ( Posci'doiifa). Down below 

 the water shows every shade of sapphire-blue, emerald- 

 green and purple: it \'aries in tint like opal, glistens 

 like iTiother-of-pearl and is reflected i."|uiveringly against 

 the gliding boat. 



