Smyrna times., 1885-07-01
GIBRALTAR.

The Signal Station is perched on the
highest point of the Rock of Gibraltar,
and the view from this point is magniti-
cent On the one hand, looking toward
Europe across the sandy isthmus we see
the Sierra de Ronda and the coast OF
Spain, while in the far distance the
snowy Sierras of Granada are scarcely
to be distinguished from luminous
clouds. Then, looking across the sunht
straits, we behold land, green, and
seemingly fertile, scarcely realizing our
dreams of Africa. Alcng the coast we
discern the towns of Ceuta, San Boque,
and Algeciras, with a background OF
classic mountain ranges AS Il fore
ground we have on the one hand the
mighty precipice, which forms the face
of the rock-On the other, but far, lar
below us, lies the town of Gibraltar with
its ouiet harbor. The west, where the
strongly-fortified town lies, is the only
side from which the rock Is accessible !;
the east and south are naturally SO
steep and rugged, and so very difficult
of access, that an attack would seem al
most hopeless even were there no fOrtlti-
cations and as to the north face, 1t IS a
sheer perpendicular precipice OF about
fourteen hundred feet apparently wholly
inaccessible. Yet down this face, two
months before our visit, an American
sailor had clambered for mere trollc'
OF course, rs his shipmates would say
he was several sheets i'll the wind which
probably accounted for his safety, as NJ
sober man could possibly have performed
such q feat. The guard below stooC
breathlessly watching this proceeding
and Mt once arrested him, till he coul'
give an account of himself. And mex
dav every atom of projecting rock tina
had afforded him footing was CAREFUL
removed, and the precipice llterall
scraped / cannot say that the city
Gibraltar has much to recommend 1t
the artistic eye its streets are narrow
but not picturesque. The tlat-roote
houses are dull and dingy. Huge white
washed barracks are dazzling i'll the
. cleanliness, but painfully common
=, place None of the public building
can be called attractive. The garrisc
liberty ranks high, and there are sever
clubs and q theatre. There are church,
of all denominations. The Jews have
!. synagogue, in which, however, /
women are allowed to appear. Th'
may attend public worship i'll privat
within closed galleries. The colony
J, SO essentially British, that none sa
British subjects may enter it without
passport, and no foreigner-nOt even
n American-may stay on the rock witho
\, obtaining police permit for specifi
number of days. Those who wish
become residents have to find secur
-. from their consul or some other hOu
j holder. The resident population
about seventeen thousand, exclusive
20 the garrison, which numbers about +
thousand in time of peace. But in al
ton to these, there is constant inf
of sailors from the vessels in harb
f. and of Moors and Spaniards, bring
80 their wares to market fruit, fish, We
E Of tables and game. These lend str(
u dash of Oriental life and color to the
prosaic town, and moreover offer as mi
temptations in the form of rich Moor
stuffs, charming wOOlen saddle-bags
mules, Spanish mantas Of striped woo
stuff, with large bright tassels,
ID, beautifully enamelled metal-wOrk.