o husband their threadbare constitutions, and lavish
their rupees: next the obsequious, smirking, money-making China-man,
with his poking shoulders, and whip-like pig-tail: then the
stout, squat Hottentots--who resemble the Dutch in but one
characteristic!--and half castes of every intermediate tint between
black and white. These are well relieved and contrasted by the
tall, warlike figures and splendid costume of his Majesty's 72nd
Highlanders, who, with the 98th regiment, form the garrison of Cape
Town."

Visit to the Residence of Napoleon at St. Helena.

"We soon came in sight of the level plateau of the Longwood estate,
the residence of the late emperor, and six miles from Plantation
House. Here the country gradually assumes a more desolate and a wilder
look; and the English visitor arrives at the unfortunate and unwelcome
conclusion, that the best part of the island was not given to the
illustrious captive. One cannot avoid agreeing with Sir W. Scott, that
Plantation House should have been accorded to him, in spite of the
detering reasons of its vicinity to the sea, and its sequestered
situation. Longwood, however, has better roads, more space for riding
or driving, and in summer must have been much cooler than the less
sheltered parts of the isle. As we turned through the lodges the old
house appeared at the end of an avenue of scrubby and weather-worn
trees. It bears the exterior of a respectable farm-house, but is now
fast running to decay. On entering a dirty courtyard, and quitting
our horses, we were shown by some idlers into a square building, which
once contained the bed-room, sitting-room, and bath of the _Empereur
des Francois._ The partitions and floorings are now thrown down, and
torn up, and the apartments occupied for six years by the hero before
whom kings, emperors, and popes had quailed, are now tenanted by
cart-horses!

"Passing on with a groan, I entered a small chamber, with two windows
looking towards the north. Between these windows are the marks of a
fixed sofa: on that couch Napoleon died. The apartment is now occupied
by a threshing machine; 'No bad emblem of its former tenant!' said
a sacrilegious wag. Hence we were conducted onwards to a large room,
which formerly contained a billiard-table, and whose front looks out
upon a little latticed veranda, where the imperial peripatetic--I
cannot style him philosopher--enjoyed the luxury of six paces to and
fro,--his favourite promenade. The