64 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
anchor in Grassy Bay. Nature is looking beautiful, 
and the temperature is genial and pleasant. These 
islands, situated as they are between the parallels of 
32° and 33° north latitude, are about equally distant 
from the West Indies and the coast of North America, 
consequently the climate is a mean between the two, 
partaking neither of the extreme heat of the one 
nor the excessive cold of the other. 
April bth .' — The morning was lovely, and from the 
anchorage the view in either direction was very 
beautiful : look where we would, there was a sort of 
prettiness. The land broken up into little knolls and 
cays; the sparkling sea running here and there into 
creeks, bays, and inlets, together with, the ever-green 
foliage of the cedar and oleander, made up a very 
attractive landscape. Directly in front of us is the 
Naval Yard, with its jetties and cambers, in which 
were H. M. ships Royal Alfred (flying the flag of the 
Commander-in-Chief), Terror , Irresistible , and several 
small gunboats ; later in the day the Challenger 
joined them, so as to facilitate refitting and com- 
pleting necessary stores. 
Close at hand is the great iron floating dock ; and 
stretching away in either direction are extensive 
stores, factories, and the residences of the officials 
connected with the establishment. 
These islands are said to have been visited nearly 
400 years ago by a Spaniard named Juan Bermudez, 
and on their discovery being reported to Spain, they 
