390 CAPE BRETON . teries. A delusive entrance presents itself from the sea between the islands and the western point on which LouJsburg stood; but a rocky ledge, covered with a few feet of water, extends across it, and renders the passage impracticable, while it also defends the harbour most completely against the heavy rolling sea of the . Within, a capacious basin, nearly three miles in length, and about a mile in width, with excellent holding ground, forms one of the best harbours in the world. A few rivulets run into the harbour, which afford fresh water; and a beach and some other parts are well adapted for the landing and drying of fish. The surrounding lands are bleak, rugged, and barren, and only a few slight traces remain of what was culti¬ vated by the French. A few dwarfish firs, birches, shrubs, moss, and grass, appear growing among the rocks, and greater fertility is only met with some miles back in the country. In fact, has no natural advantage but its fine harbour, its water¬ ing-places, and its convenient position for the ren¬ dezvous of a navy, and for the fisheries. The ruins of repose on a point of land projecting from the western coast; against one side of which the roaring surges of the ocean roll and foam, while the other is laved by the calm waters of the harbour; on both shores, the land, near the sea, is low, and rises gently to the site formerly occupied by the citadel. Stretching across this point, separa¬ ting the area of from a small pond and