32 ST. HELENA 



by the present Governor. But finding there has been (notwithstand- 

 ing they have thereby granted them as much as the said Lords 

 Proprietors) eggs gathered upon those days when they should not . . . 

 It is therefore hereby declared, that if any person shall presume any 

 more to gather eggs upon any other but their granted days ; that 

 then such boat and people therein offending, shall lose their said 

 privilege for the whole season. 



Sea-cows were also a royalty, for it was proclaimed : 



That from the ist September next, whatsoever free planter or 

 other inhabitants shall find any of the sayd fish called sea-cows, or 

 other of the like nature and quality ; on the shore of any part of 

 the sayd island, he may boyle the same and convert it into oyle 

 and take it to his owne proper use and behoof ; prcvided always 

 that he forthwith send, or cause to be sent, the eighth part, or gal- 

 lon, of all the sayde oyle so made unto Fort James, and deliver it to 

 the Governor, or such as he shall appoint, as an acknowledge- 

 ment of the said Honourable Company's royalty and property 

 and for their use and service. Further it is ordered that from the 

 said time if any officer or soldier in the sayd Honourable Company's 

 pay shall find any such fish, he may convert it into oyle, and send 

 one third part or share thereof to Fort James, the other two- thirds 

 he may dispose of as he pleaseth, provided, and it must always 

 be remembered, that all persons concerned in this matter be just 

 and right in the division and distribution of this commodity betwixt 

 the Company and themselves. 



In 1708 Governor Captain John Roberts arrived, and with 

 the help of Captain Nashbourne soon caused a healthy re- 

 action, and his attention was at once turned to defensive 

 work. Laws and ordinances were republished, trial by civil 

 law and by jury extended, extensive works were commenced, 

 and the Battery on Munden's Point was begun, as well as 

 the present castle in Jamestown. Lime quarries were found, 

 and lime was burnt. The planting of sugar-cane and other 

 produce, together with the making of tiles and bricks, re- 

 ceived attention. In fact, a general improvement of the 

 island dates from his arrival, and the islanders were fully 

 employed. He first turned his attention to the defences. 

 An engineer came out from England, and on the day he landed 

 he received instructions to send in a plan for a battery to be 

 erected at Munden's Point ; and two days after a resolution 

 was passed in council to construct the present fort in James 

 Valley, and also to build Government House. 



Mud mortar was the cement generally used for ordinary 

 buildings, but it was thought better to obtain superior 



