7 6 OSBECK'S VOYAGE. 



¥ lying fifties and bonets were here in great 

 numbers. • 



St. Helena, an ifland belonging to the 

 Engli/h, came in fight of us. This ifland, ac- 

 cording to the accounts we have, is faid to be 

 near three Swedifo miles in circumference, and 

 two in breadth. It is fituated in 15 . 56', S. 

 L. in the open fea, nearer to Africa than to 

 America^ about 200 Swedijh miles from the 

 neareft continent, and 600 leagues from the 

 Cape of Good Hope. This ifland, which is faid 

 to be very agreeable, and to produce many 

 Indian fruits, is very high, and mountainous 

 on the fea-fide, for which reafon it can be feen 

 at the diflance of twenty leagues. It firll got 

 its name from the Portugueze, who difcovered 

 it in the year 150 1, on St. Helen's day. In 

 the year 1600 the Englifh Eafl India company 

 conquered it; and in the year 1672 the Butch 

 took it j but the Englifh have fince, 1673, * n " 

 habited and fortified it; in 1701, two hun- 

 dred families, moftly Englifh y were fettled on 

 it. 



Yams (Biofcorea alata) are here, as I am 

 told, planted and eaten inftead of bread by 

 the poor. 



The 



