ST. HELENA. 239 



vious day. On the 17th, we were in latitude 

 22^^ 58' south, and longitude P 56' east. We 

 saw no more of the weed after this day. 



From the 18th we experienced a very light 

 trade wind, so that we did not make the island 

 of St. Helena until the 23d at noon, when it was 

 seen bearing north-west-by-west by compass, and 

 distant about thirty miles. We drifted a short 

 distance to leeward during the night ; we how- 

 ever soon beat up, passed high, rugged, volcanic 

 rocks, towering and gloomy, descending in 

 abrupt precipices to the water's edge ; and 

 passed Buttermilk Point, about which every 

 ledge either was fortified by small batteries, 

 or by a solitary gun, on the sides of moun- 

 tains of a towering height. After opening this 

 point, the anchorage and town appears to the 

 view ; and by 8 a. m. we had anchored off James's 

 Town (February 24.) 



The first approach to this island is far from 

 being attractive to the visitor, consisting of 

 lofty, sterile precipices, without a speck of ver- 

 dure to relieve the eye. The summits of the 

 highest around the island are occupied by signal 

 stations, and are almost in constant requisition, 

 from the number of vessels continually arriving at 

 this " Rock." Small batteries, mounting several 

 guns, occupy every ledge of rock where defence 



