366 
CBUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEB. 
visit of Prince Alfred, in 1868, when in command of 
H.M.S. Galatea . From here a street so called leads to 
the top of the hill, and branching away is Ross Road, 
which runs along for some two miles, facing the 
harbour, and in front of all the houses ; at its western 
extremity is Government House, a plain stone build- 
ing within a fence. At the other extreme is the 
cemetery. This appears to be the only level walk in 
the colony. The hills are but very rarely available 
for a walk, consisting, for the most part, of little 
else than rock and boggy ground. I cannot call to 
mind any other settlement (except, perhaps, Tristan 
d’A.cunha) more dismal, miserable, and devoid of all 
interest, than this at the Falkland Islands. It has 
formed a portion of our British colonial possessions 
since 1833, when a Lieutenant-Governor was first 
appointed, the seat of government at that time being 
at Port Louis, but in 1842 it was changed to its 
present site — Stanley. The position these islands 
occupy in a commercial point of view is of great 
importance, being placed in the great highway from 
Australia, and to and from the west coast of America ; 
they are certainly dangerous to approach, yet abound 
in safe harbours, with facilities for repairs and for 
obtaining refreshments ; beef and mutton being both 
excellent and very cheap. Of late but very few 
vessels have called. 
The climate is considered remarkably healthy. 
The winters are about as severe as those usually felt 
