228 THE PHAROS.
island. Among its natural productions the culture of the hop has long been prominent. Quaint Michael Drayton exclaims:
" O famous Kent !
What county can this isle compare with thee ? Which hath within thyself all thou couldst wish, Habits and venison, fruits, hops, fowl, and fish," &c.
And a more modern poet describes with greater par ticularity this predominating vegetable.
" On Cantium s hills,
The flowery hop, with tendrils climbing round The tall, aspiring pole, bears its light head Aloft, in pendent clusters."
The remains of the Pharos, on Castle Hill, furnish decided proof of Roman workmanship, though no in- contestible evidence can be adduced that it was erected by Julius Crcsar, as the traditions of that region are fond of asserting. That Dover was fortified by the Romans, is admitted by the most discriminating histo rians ; and its commanding situation caused it to be prized and maintained as a military station by the ancient Britons. In its towering cliffs, composed of chalk and flint stones, we were surprised to see such a variety of subterranean ways, magazines, and barracks for soldiers. The latter are capable of con taining more than two thousand men, and are con structed in the side of perpendicular precipices, to
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