Si6 ST. HELENA chap. 



from the Port. We stayed at this delightful place two days ; 

 standing nearly 800 feet above the sea, the air was cool and 

 fresh, and on every side there were delightful walks. Close 

 by, a grand ravine has been worn to a depth of about 500 

 feet through the slightly inclined streams of lava which have 

 flowed from the central platform. 



i,th. — Captain Lloyd took us to the Riviere Noire, which 

 is several miles to the southward, that I might examine some 

 rocks of elevated coral. We passed through pleasant gardens, 

 and fine fields of sugar-cane growing amidst huge blocks of 

 lava. The roads were bordered by hedges of Mimosa, and 

 near many of the houses there were avenues of the mango. 

 Some of the views, where the peaked hills and the cultivated 

 farms were seen together, were exceedingly picturesque ; and 

 we were constantly tempted to exclaim, " How pleasant it 

 would be to pass one's life in such quiet abodes ! " Captain 

 Lloyd possessed an elephant, and he sent it half-way with us, 

 that we might enjoy a ride in true Indian fashion. The 

 circumstance which surprised me most was its quite noiseless 

 step. This elephant is the only one at present on the island ; 

 but it is said others will be sent for. 



May gth. — We sailed from Port Louis, and, calling at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, on the 8th of July we arrived off St. 

 Helena. This island, the forbidding aspect of which has been 

 so often described, rises abruptly like a huge black castle from 

 the ocean. Near the town, as if to complete nature's defence, 

 small forts and guns fill up every gap in the rugged rocks. 

 The town runs up a flat and narrow valley ; the houses look 

 respectable, and are interspersed with a very few green trees. 

 When approaching the anchorage there was one striking view : 

 an irregular castle perched on the summit of a lofty hill, and 

 surrounded by a few scattered fir-trees, boldly projected against 

 the sky. 



The next day I obtained lodgings within a stone's throw of 

 Napoleon's tomb : ^ it was a capital central situation, whence I 



^ After the volumes of eloquence which have poured forth on this subject it is 

 dangerous even to mention the tomb. A modern traveller, in twelve lines, burdens 

 the poor little island with the following titles, — it is a grave, tomb, pyramid, cemetery, 

 sepulchre, catacomb, sarcophagus, minaret, and mausoleum ! 



