H1 :
• r
)iil
it
•;T
successors iu office, a few centuries lience, AA'ill be
pruning their vines on the slopes of Cross Hill.
Eor the last mile the road zigzags up the steep
slope of Green Mountain, and the whole character of
the scenery suddenly changes. The clouds, driven
helore the south-east trade, gather and linger about
the top of the mountain, and besides a frequent
most refreshing mist, a reasonahle amount of rain
falls ; not only enough to supply the requirements
of the little colony on the mountain, hut enough
(except in exceptionally dry weather) to supply
George Town also, Avliithcr it is conveyed from
‘ Hampier’s springs ’ and other sources in iron pipes
to a reservoir.
An area on the top of the mountain, of between
four and five thousand acres, thus forms an oasis of
the most delicious verdure in the middle of the
desert, Avitli a charming climate, the thermometer
ranging from ahont 17° to 27° C.
Eike Tristan d Acunha, Ascension Avas first formally
occupied hy Great Britain as a military station in
181o, during the confinement of the Emperor Napoleon
on 8t. Helena. After the death of Napoleon it
Avas determined hy the Admiralty to make Ascension
a depot for the refreshment of the African squadron,
and a detachment of marines relieved the garrison
in 1822.
The climate of Ascension is Avonderfully healthy,
Avitli pure clear air, an equable temperature and "^a
perfectly dry soil, without anything like a swamp
or marsh, and AA'ith no decaying vegetation. There
seem to he none of the usual endemic diseases, and
patients suffering from the terrible marsh fevers of
the African coast pick up rapidly the moment they
are landed. Eor many years the chief function of
Ascension was that of a sanatarium, the hospital
heloAv being filled with fever cases landed from the
African ships, Avliich were removed as soon as possible
to a charming convalescent hospital on ‘ Green
Mountain.’
On one occasion the island paid dearly for its
benevolence. In the year 1823 a virulent fever Avas
unfortunately introduced hy H.M.S. ‘ Bann,’ aa'IucIi
carried off nearly half the population.
Of late years, for various reasons, fever has become
of so much less frequent occurrence on the African
station th a t the hospitals of Ascension are usually
nearly or quite empty. The demand for fresh pro-
A'isions is liOAveA'er an increasing one, and great care
is bestowed on the cultivation of the garden and
farm on Green Mountain. On a little plateau a feAV
hundred feet heloAv tlie peak there is a small harrack
Avith a mess-room, and near it seA'eral neat detached
houses with gardens, occupied hy marine officers and
their families; and the stables and farm-huildings.
The large farm-garden—for only a few vegetables and
fruits are cultivated, and these in large quantity, for
the supply of the station and passing ships—is over
the ridge on the south side. Sheep thrive fairly on
the shoulder of the mountain, Avhich is covered Avith a
fine smooth SAvard, and planted Avith sheltering belts
and clumps of trees chiefly introduced from Australia
— E u c a l y p tu s and A c a c i a m e la n o x y lo n occupying
prominent places—almost like an English park.
I do not know a more giddy Avalk anyAvhere than
round the peak. Erom the considerable elevation