1825.) Journal of a Voyage from the Isle of France to England. 
imagine, would be very salubrious. 
Storms of any kind are seldom felt, 
thunder and lightning are hardly known; 
nor, since its first discovery, has it been 
visited by earthquakes, or volcanoes ; 
although it is evident, from the sub- 
stance of which it is composed, that it 
is of volcanic origin: for not a vestige 
of primitive rock is to be met with on 
the whole island; and from its rugged, 
fantastic and mis-shapen hills and deep 
rayines, there can be no doubt but it 
has been shook by earthquakes to its 
very base; and its being everlastingly 
fanned with a gentle breeze from the 
sea, renders it delightfully serene, plea- 
sant and healthy. 
A tolerably correct idea of the tem- 
perature may be formed, from the cir- 
cumstance of thethermometer at James’s 
Town never rising beyond 79, or falling 
below 71; and at Longwood from 72 
to 64, averaging for the year, in the 
town, 74, and at Longwood 66. The 
greatest drawback on the inhabitants 
arises from want of rain: droughts have 
been known to last as long as three 
years, which destroyed almost all the 
cattle, and withered every appearance 
of vegetation ; however, this misfortune 
rarely occurs, and when it does, the 
droughts are generally only of a few 
months’ duration. 
Agriculture is not in a very flourish- 
ing state, owing, in a great measure, to 
the rockiness of the soil, and uneven- 
ness of the land, which will not admit 
the plough, except in very few places; 
and partly to the folly of the farmers, 
who sooner than reduce the price of 
their produce have, in some instances, 
suffered it to rot on the ground. The 
consequences are, that the high price of 
provisions and stock, and the difficulty 
of procuring it at any price, has driven 
the shipping that would otherwise call 
here for supplies, to other ports, where 
they are more readily and cheaply ob- 
tained. This deprives the island of its 
foreign market, and leaves the inhabi- 
tants entirely dependant on local re- 
sources, or ona chance ship now and 
then; and the company’s ships from 
India, which are obliged to call there, 
and who only remain for a day or two. 
As a convincing proof of the bad policy 
of keeping up high prices, twenty-nine 
sail of vessels passed the island, in the 
course of the present month (February 
1825), without one of them putting in, 
or having any communication with the 
shore. 
The population of St. Helena may be 
403 
estimated above 5,000: of which the 
men are 160; women, 270; boys, 200; 
girls, 240: making 870 whites. 
Blacks—men, 400; women, 320; 
boys, 310; girls, 330: making 1,360. 
Company’s slaves, 98; free blacks, 
500; Chinese, 300; Lascars, 12: mak- 
ing 910;—total, 3,140: add troops and 
their families about 2,000 = 5,140. 
The stock of black cattle (oxen and 
cows) are about 3,000; sheep, goats and 
hogs, 5,000; pigeons and poultry in 
great numbers, with a few horses, sheep 
and asses, constitute the whole stock of 
the island. 
The defences of St. Helena are amaz- 
ingly strong, and kept in fine order. 
James’s Town and Bay are defended by a 
strong line and ditch in front; by a tre- 
mendous battery or Jadder in the west ; 
and by Munden’s, Rupert’s Hill, and 
Bank’s Batteries onthe east. In short, 
every assailable point round the coast is 
well fortified; and wherever a gun can 
be placed, there is one to be seen peep- 
ing from among the rocks. It is, in 
my opinion, the strongest place belong- 
ing to the British dominions, Gibraltar 
excepted: yet, from its local situation, 
inaccessibility, and interior resources, it 
would bea much more difficult conquest 
than Gibraltar. 
I should have observed that there are 
several good shops here, where India 
goods are sold very cheap,, particularly 
at the company’s stores: but so far we 
were unfortunate, being here only on 
the Sunday, when every place was 
closed ; so that we were disappointed in 
getting bargains, or seeing the inside of 
the shops, or stores. Having seen as 
much of St. Helena as the few hours, I 
was on shore, would admit, and picked 
up all the information I could collect 
respecting it, I returned on board at five 
o’clock, having been seven hours on 
shore; and we made sail towards Eng- 
land at 7 r.m., with a light pleasant 
breeze from the south. 
28th February. Light airs and fine 
weather running down the trades. 5th 
March.—Made the Island of Ascension, 
This island, like St. Helena, is of vol- 
canic origin; and is bare, rngged and 
unproductive. It does not rise to so 
great a height as St. Helena. It is fa- 
mous for turtle and samphire,* the only 
refreshment to. be got there; is desti- 
tute of fresh water, and is not inhabited. 
We had a sloop of war’s establishment, 
at 
* A plant preserved in pickle. 
2 
