ASCENT OF THE SUGAR-LOAF. 
11 
As we approached our destination we passed 
several uninhabited islets, situated from two to six 
miles from the entrance of the bay. These appear 
to be small portions of the rocky mainland detached 
from it in the infancy of the world. They are now 
known as Eound Island, Flat Island, &c., according 
to their shape. The entrance to the bay is some- 
what narrow, and its western side appears to be 
guarded by the conical leaning mass of the Sugar- 
Loaf, while a rocky point of land, on which the fort 
of Santa Cruz is placed, protects the eastern side. 
The Sugar-Loaf Eock, which is an enormous cone of, 
solid gTanitc seven hundred feet high, rises abruptly 
from the sea and has been the scene of several ex- 
citing adventures, almost as famous as those of the 
celebrated Peter Botte mountain in the ]\Iauritius. 
An acquaintance of mine, a mere youngster, gave 
me an account of his own perilous ascent of the 
Sugar-Loaf, which I will endeavour to render in his 
own words. 
You know, doctor,” he said, some fellow had 
planted a flag on the top which had remained there 
