516 
ST. HELENA 
CHAP. 
from the Port. We stayed at this delightful place two days ; 
standing nearly 800 feet above the sea, the air was cool and 
fresh, and on every side there were delightful walks. Close 
by, a grand ravine has been worn to a depth of about 500 
feet through the slightly inclined streams of lava which have 
flowed from the central platform. 
5 th .—Captain Lloyd took us to the Riviere Noire, which 
is several miles to the southward, that I might examine some 
rocks of elevated coral. We passed through pleasant gardens, 
and fine fields of sugar-cane growing amidst huge blocks of 
lava. The roads were bordered by hedges of Mimosa, and 
near many of the houses there were avenues of the mango. 
Some of the views, where the peaked hills and the cultivated 
farms were seen together, were exceedingly picturesque ; and 
we were constantly tempted to exclaim, “ How pleasant it 
would be to pass one’s life in such quiet abodes ! ” Captain 
Lloyd possessed an elephant, and he sent it half-way with us, 
that we might enjoy a ride in true Indian fashion. The 
circumstance which surprised me most was its quite noiseless 
step. This elephant is the only one at present on the island ; 
but it is said others will be sent for. 
May gth .—We sailed from Port Louis, and, calling at the 
Cape of Good Hope, on the 8th of July we arrived off St. 
Helena. This island, the forbidding aspect of which has been 
so often described, rises abruptly like a huge black castle from 
the ocean. Near the town, as if to complete nature’s defence, 
small forts and guns fill up every gap in the rugged rocks. 
The town runs up a flat and narrow valley ; the houses look 
respectable, and are interspersed with a very few green trees. 
When approaching the anchorage there was one striking view : 
an irregular castle perched on the summit of a lofty hill, and 
surrounded by a few scattered fir-trees, boldly projected against 
the sky. 
The next day I obtained lodgings within a stone’s throw of 
Napoleon’s tomb : 1 it was a capital central situation, whence I 
1 After the volumes of eloquence which have poured forth on this subject it is 
dangerous even to mention the tomb. A modern traveller, in twelve lines, burdens 
the poor little island with the following titles,—it is a grave, tomb, pyramid, cemetery, 
sepulchre, catacomb, sarcophagus, minaret, and mausoleum ! 
