448 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



template the prison-house of Napoleon, and the ignoble condition and 

 uses to which it is put. 



The officer in charge of the magnetic observatory complained that 

 it was badly placed, and that both his instruments and observations 

 suffered from the constant change of temperature, and the dampness 

 of the situation. He politely showed us the instruments, which were 

 in a detached building ; after which we returned to Longwood, and 

 soon after left it, glad to escape from the mist and driving wind that 

 enveloped it. 



From Longwood we took the road to Plantation House, which 

 leads across the island, making numerous turns as it ascends and 

 descends the gullies. Many pretty dells were occupied by neat 

 cottages, in whose gardens were cultivated potatoes and other vege- 

 tables. Of the former, two crops are obtained within the year, and a 

 ready sale is found for them to the vessels that visit the island. On 

 our arrival at the porter's lodge of Plantation House, we were in- 

 formed that the governor, Colonel Trelawny, had gone to Jamestown, 

 and that the ladies of the family were not visible. We therefore, so 

 far as time permitted, examined the grounds, which are laid out with 

 taste, and contained a good collection of foreign trees. Some of these 

 were very flourishing, and it was curious to see many trees of Euro- 

 pean species growing side by side with those of Australia. 



Our botanists were of opinion that the tradition which prevails of 

 the island, at the time of its discovery, having been covered with 

 wood, is erroneous ; and that the story of the destruction of this forest 

 by goats, is equally so. The barrenness of this island is well illus- 

 trated by the difficulty with which young trees are preserved from the 

 ravages of sheep or goats. Pasture is so scarce, that but few cattle 

 are kept, and these are chiefly importations from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Their scarcity may be judged of from the price of beef, which 

 sells for twenty-five cents a pound ; and it may be as well to state, that 

 to strangers the prices of all other eatables are equally exorbitant. 



From the road near Plantation House, we had a good view of the 

 gully in which Jamestown is situated, together with the ravines ex- 

 tending into it from the interior of the island. Descending, we passed 

 over a portion of the island, which is little better than a barren rock. 

 Yet in some places comfortable-looking houses were seen, and here 

 and there a beer-house, or tap-room, quite in the English style, and, 

 from all accounts, as great nuisances as low taverns are in any coun- 

 try. We finally reached the fortification on Ladder Hill, and made 

 the descent of the zigzag road on the side of the cliff, passing a place 



