70 
CBUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEB. 
lands of the magnificent harbour of Halifax, which 
is so well sheltered by McNab’s Island, lying at its 
mouth, that it affords security and safe anchorage to 
vessels of any magnitude. 
This island is covered with extensive foliage and 
vegetation, all bright and green, and, with the pretty 
white lighthouse at its western extremity, can scarcely 
be surpassed for pictorial effect. Steaming on, we 
next pass St. George’s Island, which seems to lie in 
the very heart of the harbour, and is well and 
strongly fortified. A short distance farther and 
we reach our destination, alongside the wharf of 
the Naval Yard, for the purpose of completing 
stores. 
This colony, the history of which dates back to 
July 1749, was founded at the instigation of the 
Earl of Halifax, at that time President of the Board 
of Trade and Plantations. 
The city, with its suburbs, extends, for over two 
miles in length, along the slope of a hill on the 
western side of a very fine harbour. To the tourist 
it presents varied and numerous attractions. 
Its charming situation, its safe harbour and splen- 
did scenery, are not to be surpassed on this side of 
the Atlantic. The sea runs up into various little bays 
and coves indenting the land in many directions, 
giving a variety of charming aspects to the entire 
scene, and finally ending in Bedford Basin, a broad 
sheet of water covering an area of nine square 
