Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/80

Rh marble bust standing on its pedestal, and beyond this a chapel. This is the place where Catholic mass was first performed by order of Columbus. The bust is his, and it and the chapel have been erected there in memory of the first divine service on the island. A large white marble statue, that of Charles V., I believe, stands in the middle of the square, surrounded by lofty, magnificent king-palms, regular kings among trees, and around these small plantations of other trees and shrubs. Among these I have observed one tree, which has foliage and a head very like our lime-tree, although not so large, with fire-coloured flowers not unlike our Indian cross-flower, but darker in colour; and shrubs, too, which have the same kind of flowers, and upon the stems of which small, splendid, green lizards dart about and gaze quite calmly at me, while I gaze at them. A number of white marble seats are placed here, where people may rest in the shade of the palm-trees. But they do not cast much shade, and one has to keep watch for the moment, and for the spot where their proud crowns afford a shelter from the sun. But it is a pleasure to see their branches move, rustling in the wind, for their motion is majestic, and graceful at the same time!

Hence I go to an esplanade, or lofty terrace, called La Cortine de Valdez, raised along the harbour on the opposite side to Morro. It is a short promenade, but has the most beautiful view. And here I wander, to inhale the sea air and to watch the waves, if it be calm, break in lofty, white-crested surf against the rocks of Morro, which exclude the tumult of the ocean and leave the harbour calm; watch, through the mouth of the harbour, white sails skimming over the vast blue sea; watch little lizards dart out and in, or lie gently basking in the sun on the low walls which run along the esplanade, and white doves fly down to drink at a white marble basin below a lovely monument in honour of Valdez, which terminates the