CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 471 



The first object of interest that presents itself as connected with 

 the residence of Napoleon, is the cottage at the Briars, to which he was 

 removed soon after his arrival. It is situated in a small dell at the 

 head of the gully, and has attached to it some ten acres of ground, 

 laid out in walks and flower-beds. There are many similar spots on 

 the island, which are known by the name of "bosoms;" none of 

 them, however, so striking, nor having such an air of quiet and 

 comfort as that just mentioned. Its beauties are more strongly im- 

 pressed by the marked contrast they afford to the arid and barren 

 rocks of the gully side, up which we had been making our ascent 

 under a burning sun. The only vegetation on the surrounding hills 

 was a few Cacti and wild vines, and some firs that were imported from 

 Scotland about fifty years ago. The high ground of the island was 

 of equal altitude, there being but few points above the general level. 

 On reaching it, we felt a sensible change of temperature, the air 

 becoming raw and disagreeable. Turning to the eastward, we pro- 

 ceeded three miles along the road, and then turned into the path 

 which leads to the quiet dell in which the tomb is situated. The 

 road soon became so steep that we were obliged to alight from the 

 carriage, and descend on foot to the cottage occupied by the widow 

 Talbot, who furnishes refreshments to visiters, and who takes care to 

 let it be known that it is customary to pay for them whether you 

 partake or not. Her continued whinings about her poverty, the 

 injustice of the British government, and the unfulfilled promises of 

 the Prince de Joinville, are singularly out of place, and at variance 

 with the thoughts with which one's mind is occupied when visiting 

 such a spot. In the rear of the cottage, at the end of the dell, and 

 about thirty yards distant, is the tomb. 



On the banks of the dell, a few yews, cedars, and weeping-willows, 

 are growing ; while in its centre stands the old and now leafless 

 willow, which seems, like the Emperor, to have been killed by the 

 treatment it has received. A spring of pure and delicious water bub- 

 bles from the rock near by ; to it we retreated to avoid the annoyance 

 occasioned by the monotonous whinings of an old sergeant. He 

 talked continually of the length, breadth, and depth, of the vault, told 

 us of how many slabs it was formed, how they were cemented 

 together, how opened, and many other particulars of so little im- 

 portance, that I shall not trouble my readers by repeating them. We 

 at last put an end to the garrulity by paying him the expected shilling, 

 and walking off out of hearing. This is an annoyance to which all 



