364 PALMER'S NOTES ON ST. HELENA. [Junk 27, 1859. 



and of the present condition of the island, — its geology, fauna, and 

 statistics, — and may be considered as an accompaniment to the map. 



He remarks, — " St. Helena lies in the strength of the s.e. trade 

 wind, and is usually sighted by ships at a distance of 20 leagues, 

 rising like a huge fortress from the bosom of the ocean. It is sur- 

 rounded by a wall of precipitous cliffs from 1000 to 1800 feet in 

 height, intersected by chasms, serving as an outlet for the water- 

 courses of the islan(^and terminating in small coves more or less 

 exposed to the fury of the waves. There are no less than twenty- 

 three of these openings around the coast ; but landing is almost 

 impracticable except on the north-western or leeward side, and at 

 Prosperous and Sandy Bays to windward, and even then only in 

 favourable weather. The most singular phenomenon connected 

 with this part of the ocean is the setting in of very heavy con- 

 tinuous swells, called ' Rollers,' from the n.n.w., particularly 

 during the month of February, when the waves burst on the lee- 

 ward shore with astonishing grandeur and impetuosity. During 

 their continuance landing is extremely dangerous, and can only be 

 effected by watching the intervals between the swells. In February 

 184&, thirteen vessels moored at half a mile from the shore were 

 totally wrecked, and the wharves and batteries suffered considerable 

 damage. Ko satisfactory solution appears to be given for this phe- 

 nomenon ; and the suggestion by Colonel Smythe, r.a., f.r.g.s., that 

 simultaneous observations should be carried on during the period of 

 * Rollers ' at Ascension, Tristan d'Acunha, and St. Helena, appears 

 to offer the most practical method of arriving at anything like an 

 explanation of the cause." 



The rain-fall of the island is about 27 inches. Its temperature 

 varies according to the altitude and exposure of the locality. At 

 High Knoll, 1900 feet above the sea, it is from 65^ to 70^ Fahr. ; at 

 Ladder Hill, 600 feet, 70° to 80^; and in James Town, 75° to 85o 



Statistics, 1857. — Acreage, 30,030; of which, uncultivated, 22,160; 

 pasture, 7652 ; Crops, 482. 



Live Stock.— Cattle, 1625; sheep, 4230; horses, 230; goats, 670. 



Inhabitants.— Males, 2973 ; females, 2517. Total, 5490. 



Finance. — Revenues, 19,837^. ; expenditure, 19,079?. 



The President, — If no gentleman wishes to say anything concerning this 

 paper, I would state, in moving a vote of thanks to Major Palmer, what the 

 circumstances were under which his map was made. Major Palmer was 

 quartered in St. Helena, and he made that survey himself as a labour of love, 

 not by any orders of his military superiors. Under these circumstances, 1 am 

 sure you will most readily vote your thanks to him, not merely for the inter- 

 esting details which he has given us of the history of the island, but also for 

 the valuable information he has been the means of providing for this Society 

 and the world at large. 



