THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 7

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

By Sabjjia,

JERSEY.-No. IV,

This morning I purpose taking a trip from St. Helier's to -St. Aubin's by train, and then walk to St. Brelade. The railway skirts the bay, and numbers of martello towers are passed. In the times when piracy was rife on the Mediterranean coasts and the Corsairs used frequently to land and plunder coast towns and villages, towers were erected from which the approach of a pirate ship could be seen, and the striking of a. bell with a, little, hammer (" martello") was the signal of warning. During the great French war, a number of towers with walls sftthick, and a heavy swivel gun on the roof, were erected for the defence of the British coast. Almost two miles from Notrmont Point is the small town of St. Aubins, with its diminutive harbour aud castle. In clear weather it commands splendid views of the- bay and town of St. Helier's and Elizabeth castle.' It is a small neat town with good roads running in various directions. It also lies at the entrance to a very pretty valley. The little castle on an islet near the harbour' is to St. Aubins what Elizabeth castle is to St. Helier's. .It is armed with three powerful Armstrong guns. On leaving St. Aubins, wo go through a wild tract of open table land, more or less cultivated, but chiefly covered with furze and heather. A small tower called Noirmont Tower is passed. This serves as a sea mark, and close by is the pretty little bay of Port-let, having in its centre a good sized rock covered with a martello tower. It is also called Janvrin's Tower, as it was once the quarantine ground of the crcw of a merchant ship when a fearful plague was raging among them. They all died on this island, and the captain's name being Jauvrin the place took his name. Now we come to St. Brelade's Bay, the favourite resort of visitors. The bay is hemmed in by hills rising to great precipices on the right and left. There is a large expanse of silvery sand, which is very delightful to walk on at low tide, and froni the heights the whole of St. Aubins Bay can be seen. The church is the oldest in the island. Of the original building, which was constructed in 1111, very little remains. Within the precints of the churchyard is the Fishermen's Chapel, which dates back to the middle of tho eighth century. On the walls are still to be seen some remains of frescoes which once adorned them. It is said that in the early days no fisherman could go out in his boat without first going in there to pray. The chapel is now quite empty, nothing hut the four walls and roof ie~ maining. At a dear little romantic cottage close by we had tea, looking out from the open door on to this little chapel and beautiful bay beyond. I must now mention a few places of interest in the interior of the island. I forgot to say that in Elizabeth Castle is shown a email square tower, where, it is said, Sir Walter Raleigh resided when governor. The interior of Jersey is much better wooded than her sister isles, and there are numerous pretty valleys, hut the farm houses and cottages are not nearly so picturesque as in Guernsey and Sark. The lanes are mostly covered with a canopy of trees, and the hedges are high and laden with flowers and ferns. The manor house of St. Ouen is of great antiquity. It is a rambling pile of buildings approached by an arched gateway of tlie time of Henry 711. The central part was built in the time of Charles 11. There is a small square massive tower in the building, which is probably the oldest part. The oak staircase is very fino. This manor belongs to the family of De Carteret, who all achieved great deeds. Margaret de Hurliston, daughter-in-law of Philip de Carteret, saved her husband's life, which would have been sacrificed by Matthew Baker, the tyrannical governor. She went to London, and laid her case before Henry VII, who investigated it and granted the relief.

Another place of great interest is Houguc-Bie, or Prince's Tower. It was built by a very singular character, Philippe d'Auvergne, Due dc Bouillon, on the ruins of an ancient, chapel. The building is very curious and well worth a visit, on account of the lovely view from the ton. It was from here that Phillippe d'Auvergne used to signal to the royalists on the French coast. The country round is covered with smiling orchards, which, in the season, are loaded with fruit; pretty cottages, generally built of stone; each having a patch of gavdfcn where the famous Jersey cabbage can be seen growing, the stalk often reaching the height of six or seven feet. St. Peter's Valley is one of the finest in tie island, and the church possesses the loftiest steeple. In this valley are most of the vineries, which are a very important source of profit. 1 must not finish my article without telling you about a very* peculiar law still in force in the islands. It Ls a strange custom, known as the Cry of Haro. It is peculiar to Jersey aud" Guernsey, ami was formerly common in Normandy. When au individual lint's that his -neighbour or any other i>ergoii is encroaching upon his property by tiro erection or demolition of a wall or other structure or by anv other trespass, he repairs to the' spot, accompanied by two witnesses, in the presence of whom he orders the aggressor or bus agent to desist, by involving the name of Hollo, first Duke of Normandy, in the singular form of exclamation, " IIa.ro! Haro! Haro! a liaide, mon prince." This is &iid on his kuees, and by addressing the words "Jo yous ontoime <!<> quitter cet ouvrage" to the aggressor, upon which he must instantly stop all work. If daring to proceed he is liable to be punished for a bleach of the peace and a contempt of the King's authority, the property being supposed to be under the King's special protection from the momentthe cry is made. The aggrieved party then appears before the "bailiff, and a written declaration of the case, signed by the bailiff must be deposited at the tirirfe or Record Office within 24 boms. It is theji brought before the court in the shape of an action. Another peculiar thing is that all the parochial churches in Jersey are situated near the sea, and if a fugitive from justice, whether he were innocent,- or guilty, could gain a path leading from the church to the sea, he was fptite safe from all piiisuit. The lioapitable shores of Jersey and 'Guernsey have over and over &S%kboc.n. fought by lugitives as a haven

of safety. These islands liavo thus answered a noble purpose in offering hospitality alike to ''all who are desolato ami oppressed," without distinction of race, creed, or language.