over the surface of the ground in some climates, would evaporate as quickly as it flowed, but here, conducted into a cask, it affords no inconsiderable portion of the supply at Regent’s Square.  It is sent down in barrels on the backs of asses, or mules, and served out by measure, according to the quantity procured.  There were a few habitations near this spring, cut out of the solid rock, for the residence of soldiers who were stationed here, with their wives and families.  From Dampier’s Spring we continued to ascend about two miles further, when we arrived at the Colonel’s dwelling (which consisted merely of a ground floor), from whence all sterility ceases, the space between it and the top of the mountain being covered with a fine rich mould, partly cultivated with sweet potatoes, and partly covered with wild herbage, amongst which the Cape gooseberry is very abundant; this is an agreeable subacid fruit, pleasant to eat when ripe, and useful in a green state for tarts, &c.

Before dinner I took an opportunity of walking to the top of the hill, which is the highest on the island, being 800 feet above the Colonel’s house, and 2,849 feet above the level of the sea.

After dinner Lieutenant Badgeley, Dr. Burn, and Lieutenant Carrington of the Marines, left us to return by way of Regent Square, to the Eden.  These three gentlemen have all, since that time, paid the debt of nature on board that ship.  I accompanied Mr. Butter round the side of the Mountain to the Black Rock, beneath which stretched a wide and deep valley.  In this walk we passed various spots set apart for the cultivation of vegetables, to which the soil is exceedingly favourable, while the deposition of night dews, with light showers, and a genial climate, all combine to render vegetation here peculiarly luxuriant, so that the inhabitants are not only enabled to reserve an ample supply for themselves, but to spare a small quantity for most of the ships that call at the island.  Colonel Nichols informed us that he had 1000 lbs. weight of vegetables, principally the sweet potatoe, ready to dispose of at this period.  We had at dinner green peas, and French beans, besides the more common vegetables, likewise turnip-radishes with our cheese.  In fact all European vegetables may be, and most of them are, produced here.  The greatest range of the thermometer on the mountain in the winter months, which are August, September, October, and November, is from 58 deg. to 70 deg., and in the summer from 70 deg. to 82 deg., consequently the greatest range of the whole year is only 24 deg. being from 58 deg. to 82 deg.  F. The sweet potatoe, (of which there are a great many and very large[47]) was first brought here from Africa; the best method of cultivating them is found to be from shoots.

The following are the names and number of domestic animals now on the island, which is about 30 miles in circumference.