Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

570 CHAPTER XXIII. Mauritius, beautiful appearance — Hindoos — Cape of Goo Hope — St. Helena — -Geology — History of changes in vegetation, probable cause of extinction of land-shells — Ascension — Green Hill — Curious incrusta- tions of calcareons matter on tidal rocks — Bahia — Brazil — Splendour of tropical scenery — Pernambuco — Singular reef — Azores — Supposed crater — Hints to collectors — Retrospect of the most impressive parts of the voyage. MAURITIUS TO ENGLAND. April. 29th. — In the morning we passed round the northern extremity of the Isle of France. From this point of view the aspect of the island equalled the expectations raised by the many well-known descriptions of its beautiful scenery. The sloj^ing plain of the Pamplemousses, scattered over with houses, and coloured bright green from the large fields of sugar-cane, composed the foreground. The bril- liancy of the green was the more remarkable, because it is a colour which generally is only conspicuous from a very short distance. Towards the centre of the island, groups of wooded mountains rose out of this highly-cultivated plain ; their summits, as so commonly happens with ancient vol- canic rocks, being jagged into the sharpest points. Masses of white clouds were collected around their pinnacles, as if for the sake of pleasing the stranger's eye. The whole island, with its sloping border and central mountains, was adorned with an air of perfect elegance : the scenery, if I may use such an expression, appeared to the senses harmonious. I spent the greater part of the next day in walking about the town, and visiting different people. The town is of considerable size, and is said to contain 20,000 inhabitants the streets are very clean and regular. Although the island has been so many years under the English government, the general character of the place is quite French : Englishmen