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

July, 1836. ST. HELENA. 579 like a huge castle from the ocean. A great wall, built of successive streams of black lava, forms around the whole circuit a bold coast. Near the town, as if in aid of the natural defence, small forts and guns are every where built up, and mingled with the rugged rocks. The town extends up a flat and very narrow valley ; the houses look respectable, and they are interspersed with a very few green trees. When approaching the anchorage there is one striking view an irregvdar castle perched on the summit of a lofty hill, and surrounded by a few scattered fir-trees, boldly projects against the sky. The next day I obtained lodgings within a stone's throw of Napoleon's tomb.* I confess, however, this had little attraction for me : but it was a capital central situation, whence I could make excursions in every direction. During the four days I staid here, from morning to night I wandered over the island, and examined its geological history. The house was situated at an elevation of about 2000 feet ; here the weather was cold and very boisterous, with constant showers of rain ; and every now and then the whole scene was veiled in thick clouds. Near the coast the rough lava is entirely destitute of vegetation : in the central and higher parts, a different series of rocks have from extreme decomposition produced a clayey soil, which, where not covered by vegetation, is stained in broad bands of many bright colours. At this season the land, moistened by constant showers, produces a singularly bright green pasture ; this lower and lower down, gradually fades away, and at last disappears. In latitude 16°, and at the trifling elevation of 1500 feet, it is surprising to behold a vegetation possessing a character decidedly English. The hills are crowned with irregular plantations of Scotch firs * 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 mausolenm 2 P 2