KINGSTON AND POET EOYAL. 
19 
to place. My mind was full of Columbus, and of his 
feelings on that eventful night, when the coast of 
Guanahani lay spread out before him with its moving 
lights, and proud anticipations. With curiosity and 
hope, somewhat analogous {'parva componere magnis), 
did I contemplate the tropical island before me, its 
romance heightened by the indefiniteness and ob- 
scurity in which it lay. I was on deck several times 
during the night, and during the intervals was still 
engaged, in dreams, in endeavouring to penetrate the 
darkness of the shore. 
KINGSTON AND PORT ROYAL. 
At day-break (Dec. 5th) we found ourselves off 
the mouth of Kingston Harbour, becalmed. How 
lovely was the scene ! The sea was of crystal clear- 
ness, allowing the eye to penetrate far into its depth 
beneath the shadow of the ship’s stern ; while all 
around, sleeping in the perfect calm, it reflected the 
heavens like a plate of steel. No clouds broke the 
uniformity of that reflection ; but all above was clear 
transparent blue, already suffusing with brightness in 
the seaward horizon. Before us stretched away on 
either hand the beauteous island, with its many 
mountain ridges, showing their purple summits in re- 
ceding succession. But one object instantly arrested 
the eye, and long detained it ; right over against us, 
apparently overhanging the city of Kingston, towered 
in its giant grandeur the Peak which I had seen the 
evening before. It seemed close at hand, from its 
vastness ; though its uniform blue hue told on re- 
