THE TOWN. 
21 
within the gates it may be considered merely a large 
garrison. 
The opening and closing of the gates is daily carried 
out with a certain amount of ceremony, as if in a state 
of siege. Immediately after sunrise the sergeant of 
the guard procures the keys of the gates, which have 
been deposited at the Governor’s the night before, 
when, accompanied by a guard with rifles and fixed 
bayonets, he has the gates opened, and the drawbridge 
lowered ; and throughout the day visitors are free to 
come and go ; those from Spanish possessions having 
a pass which is 44 vised.” 
Every evening, soon after sunset, the ceremony is 
repeated. The sergeant, accompanied by his escort, 
carrying a heavy bunch of keys, marches to the 
various town gates, the bridges are drawn up, the 
gates closed, bolted, and locked, and from this hour 
none can enter or leave the town, for the keys are 
returned to the Governor. 
The Naval Yard is a compact and excellent esta- 
blishment, where defects to the hull and machinery 
of vessels on this part of the station are well attended 
to. Stores of all descriptions are to be obtained, and 
large quantities of coal, some 10,000 or 15,000 tons, 
are usually on hand. 
The town, which is built on terraces on the side of 
the Rock, gives shelter to some 15,000 souls, consist- 
ing of Spaniards, English, Italians, Portuguese, Moors, 
Turks, Greeks, and Jews; indeed, a mixture of races, 
