GOOD-BYE. 



287 



lers by steamer, we remain a sufficient time at St. 

 Helena to allow of a somewhat hurried visit to Long- 

 wood ; and, going ashore with a good number of fellow- 

 passengers, we charter the few carriages and saddle- 

 horses to be had in the little town, and proceed, as fast 

 &s we can, up the steep, zigzag road. We notice that 

 in this island there seem to be two completely different 

 climates within a very short distance of one another. 

 Down near the sea-level, bananas and other tropical 

 plants grow luxuriantly in the close, stifling heat : but 

 as we ascend we come into another climate ; the air is 

 almost cold, there is a fine, drizzling rain ; blackberries, 

 bracken,and other home-like plants border the roadside, 

 and we might imagine ourselves in England, but for 

 the bright-hued little birds which peep fearlessly at us 

 from the bushes. Though the excursion is a most 

 enjoyable one, especially after being cooped up on 

 board ship, Longwood itself is disappointing, the house 

 being quite dismantled, and containing nothing but a 

 very beautiful bust of Napoleon, which has been placed 

 by his family in one of the rooms. 



Our passage is throughout a calm and prosperous one: 

 we have pleasant company on board ; there are none 

 of the cliques and small enmities which so often spoil 

 the enjoyment of a voyage ; some of the passengers 

 play and sing well ; gnod concerts and theatricals en- 

 liven many of our evenings ; and our only disappoint- 

 ment is the unkind fate which again brings us through 

 Madeira in the dark. And at last, one lovely April 

 morning — which seems to have been made on purpose 



