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.
5th. - 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 9th. - 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.
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