A HUGE BAROMETER 413 low. This conical-shaped mass of rock was so named because it was used as a place of execution by the Cromwellites during the Civil War, and a grim, ghastly pile it looks. On the way back to St. Mary's from Bryher, as the sun sets behind them, throwing them into relief, the rocks, singularly like haycocks in a field, stand up silhouetted against the sky. They are in a row, and are named after what they so obviously represent. But to return to the island of St. Mary's. The most remarkable object in Hugh Town is the gigantic barometer which the late Mr. Augustus Smith had erected to benefit small coasting vessels which could not afford in those days to carry barometers. A large, square, black disc is raised or lowered to show the height of the barometer. A tongue of wood placed just above the disc shows the glass is rising; if placed below, the opposite. This huge barometer, sixty feet in height, is, of course, merely a mechanical or graphic representation of the state of the real thing. It is set twice a day and corrected to sea-level. Large figures on the crossbars give barometrical readings in tenths. I heard that the local washerwomen consult it as to whether they should hang their clothes out to dry. If you ask anyone in St. Mary's what the weather is going to do, he at once instinctively looks up at the colossal weather-glass. The late "Lord Proprietor" of the Scilly Isles was a man of great ideas, grand conceptions, for in these days the slightest originality is exceptional, and no one to my knowledge had ever before made a gigantic barometer. By that, if by nothing else, his memory will long live in the Scillies. A monument to this remarkable man has been placed on a height on Tresco Island, where it is a distinct landmark. Beyond this barometer on the left, is a strong building, formerly the powder-magazine, now the prison-seldom if ever tenanted. The entrance of what used to be the garrison is through an arched gateway, on which hangs a large bell which, when the garrison was occupied by soldiers, rang the hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The garrison was dismantled in 1863, the guns which used to man the walls having chiefly come from the wreck of the Colossus, which occurred near the western rocks in 1777; they were recovered after being submerged nearly fifty-four years. We cannot think they would have ever been any good in action. A few minutes' walk from this archway brings you to the Star, or Elizabeth, Castle. This may almost be described as a freak-castle, for it is just like a huge starfish, with eight rays sharply pointed to correspond with the eight principal points of the compass. It was erected in the reign of the great Queen of that name, in whose memory it bears over the principal entrance "E.R. 1593." The other great Queen this country has had-Victoria-visited the fortress of her illustrious predecessor in September, 1846. Near this curiosity is the meteorological station or hut, where I found the old gentleman in charge taking observations. On that day (August 11th, 1907) I saw the sun record -twelve and a half hours of sunshine and continuous too! I asked the venerable meteorologist if this was literally a record, but he with swift decision and intimate knowledge said it was not, but that he could show me a blue slip proving fourteen and a half hours of unbroken sunshine--and he did. It struck me that this down by the side of the weather-hut would be a good place to camp out in, that is, of course, if one were in search of sunshine. Close to this is the Lloyd's observation and signalling station, 128 feet above the sea. I then walked on and viewed the deserted fortifications. There are several forts connected by a wide wall built of solid granite blocks running round this coast of the island, which must have cost quite half a million of money. Iron railings of a particularly substantial character, even elaborate in design, barbed-wire entanglements-all remain slowly rusting away. The circular barbette, steel-clad, looks out over the sea, and would make a delightful summer-house, for of course no quick-firing gun now inhabits it, if such ever did. Within twenty yards of this two solitary muzzleloading guns on a solid platform look out forlornly on the sea, doubtless wondering why they are left there to gradually oxidise away in the salt sea air. A fine deep well has been cut through the rocks, with a high brick cemented coaming on the top-just left as it was abandoned! Similarly a galvanised-iron shed lined inside with varnished matchboarding and still possessing good stoves is also going to |