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CHAPTER XXIII. 



Mauritius, beautiful appearance — Hindoos — Cape of Goo Hope — St. 

 Helena — Geology — History of changes in vegetation, probable cause 

 of extinction of land-shells — Ascension — Green Hill — Curious incrusta- 

 tions of calcareous matter on tidal rocks — Bahia — Brazil — Splendour 

 of tropical scenery — Pernambuco — Singular reef — Azores — Supposed 

 crater — Hints to collectors — Retrospect of the most impressive parts of 

 the voyage. 



MAURITIUS TO ENGLAND. 



April 29th. — In the morning we passed round the 

 northern extremity of the Isle of France. From this point 

 of view the aspect of the island equalled the expectations 

 raised by the many well-known descriptions of its beautiful 

 scenery. The sloping plain of the Pamplemousses^ scattered 

 over with houses^ and coloured bright green from the large 

 fields of sugar-cane^ composed the foreground. The bril- 

 liancy of the green was the more remarkable^ because it is 

 a colour which generally is only conspicuous from a very 

 short distance. Towards the centre of the island, groups of 

 wooded mountains rose out of this highly-cultivated plain ; 

 their summits, as so commonly happens with ancient vol- 

 canic rocks, being jagged into the sharpest points. Masses 

 of white clouds were collected around their pinnacles, as if 

 for the sake of pleasing the stranger's eye. The whole island, 

 with its sloping border and central mountains, was adorned 

 with an air of perfect elegance : the scenery, if I may use 

 such an expression, appeared to the senses harmonious. 



I spent the greater part of the next day in walking about 

 the town, and visiting different people. The town is of 

 considerable size, and is said to contain 20,000 inhabitants ; 

 the streets are very clean and regular. Although the island 

 has been so many years under the English government, the 

 general character of the place is quite French : Englishmen 



