principal inhabitants and the oldest settlers. At first we got into a Dutch boarding-house, which Frank would have called the “Hotel de Bugs ;” now we are in an English lodging, much cleaner; only we have to wait on ourselyes a good deal.
On leaving the ship we all divided into separate parties, as at Madeira: curs consists of ourselves, Misses Shields and Knight, Captain Faulkner, and Mr. Temple. Mr, Temple is a tame boy, whom Captain F. looks after, for fear he should get into serapes on shore—going out as a cadet. He is very merry, good-natured, and hungry; and his company and pretty fresh face come very natural to me, and remind me of my brothers. T especially like him when he is very hungry,
We all went yesterday io see a live boa constrictor: he was the most horrible creature I ever saw; thirty-three feet long, greenish and brownish, and with a few silver scales, but the most detestable countenance you can imagine. If the Lady Geraldine’s eyes were like his when they shrunk in her bead, I do not wonder at anything that happened to Christabel.
T hear there is a Hottentot infant-sehool here, which I mean to go and see; but we make all our distant excursions first; we have been about fifteen miles into the country. It is not so pretty as Madeira, but there are one or two magnificent views: the chief characteristics of the scenery are high rocks, green grass, and white sand, but the white sand is entirely covered with flowers—English hothouse flowers, growing wild.
We went to the English church twice on Sunday—-a pretty church, built by the English residents, with a respectable High-church clergyman—somewhat dull. There is 1 Sunday-school belongine fo the church, and taught principally by English ludies. Here are plenty of Methodist chapels; the Wesleyans are said to be the best.
‘There isa very poor museum; but I bought at it a conple of uely shells for the © s. I hope they will not break in coming. Mr. Harvey, who is very scientific, says they are enrious, and “right to have :” they are land-shells—Achatina.
Papa always likes to know how a place would answer to live at; so tell him that here there are three prices: one cheap, for Dutch ; one dear, for English; and one dearest, for visitors: we pay the dearest, of course; and we get six mutton-chops for
