382 
CBTJISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
forming the centre of a scene Oriental in its wealth 
of palms, orange groves, flowers, and orchards. 
Just time enough was allowed for a scamper on shore, 
through the narrow, steep, and winding streets of 
the town, and only a glimpse could be had of its old 
walls and gates, its churches and quaint-looking 
houses, of all shapes, sizes, and colours, in white, red, 
or green, according to the taste of the owners. All 
this, with a charming bright and sunny shy, and 
the pretty and picturesque dress of the peasants, 
made up a picture delightful to the artist as well as 
the ordinary observer. 
By midnight sufficient coal had been taken in, and 
early the next day we were again at sea. The weather 
was still squally and unpleasant, yet we managed to 
get round Cape Finisterre ; and now, with the wind 
somewhat fairer, a capital run was made across the 
dreaded Bay of Biscay. The evening of the 23rd, 
the bright light on Cape Usliant was seen ; and the 
next morning, amidst haze and fog, we had our first 
sight of the English coast, as we passed up Channel, 
amidst a very maze of shipping outward and home- 
ward bound. 
Onward we go, sighting the old familiar head- 
lands and landmarks — the Eddystone, the Start, the 
white cliffs at Portland and St. Alban’s Head — until 
at last the Needles are in sight. After a few hours’ 
steaming through the Solent, we reach Spithead 
(Portsmouth) ; and late on the evening of the 24th 
