TWO MILES OF CANNON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 31

TWO MILES OF CANNON.

The great sight of Gibraltar is the fortifications, which are on an immense scale, as the whole circuit of the lock is seven miles. But not all this requires to be defended, for on the eastern side the cliff is so tremendous that there is no possibility of scaling it. It is fearful to stand on the brow and look down to where the waves are dashing more than 1000 ft below. The approach must be by land from the north, or from the sea on the western or southern side. The two latter are defended by a succession of batteries carried along the sea wall, and up the side of the rock, so that there is not a spot on which an assailant can set his foot which is not under the fire of guns. The northern side is pierced by the great galleries cut in the rock, which are the unique feature of Gibraltar, and distinguish it above all the other fortresses of the world. These are filled with guns that were old more than 100 years ago, during the great siege, which lasted nearly four years, when the inhabitants had no rest day nor night. After we have passed through one tier perhaps a mile in length, we mount' to a second, which rises above the other like the upper deck of an enormous line-of-battle ship. Enormous, indeed, it must be, if we can imagine a double-decker a mile long. As we tramped past these endless rows of cannon it occurred to me that their simultaneous discharge must be very trying to the nerves of the artilleryman (if he has any nerves), as the concussion again3t the walls ef rock is much greater than if they were fired in the open air, and I asked my guide if he did not dread it. He confessed that he did, but added, like the plucky soldier thafc he was : " We've got to stand up to it, though."