94 ST. HELENA 



The roads to the interior are made along these rocks, which 

 are imnany places loose and intersected with shale. After 

 heavy rains, or after a very hot season, huge masses de- 

 tach themselves and fall into the valley. There have been 

 many falls of rock, but none so terrible as that which 

 occurred on April 19, 1890, when the inhabitants were 

 rouse'd in the dead of a night of perfect darkness by ^a low 

 rumbling sound, gaining quickly in force, until, with a 

 deafening roar, hundreds of tons of rock were precipitated 

 on the houses in the town, burying sleeping men, women 

 and children. The remembrance of this is even now 

 terrifying to the people who fled from their homes panic- 

 stricken, not knowing from what quarter danger threatened. 

 Nine persons were killed, many seriously hurt, and a great 

 number saved in a most miraculous manner. To .the memory 

 of the dead, and as a thanksgiving for the escape of so 

 many, a memorial fountain was erected in the main street. 

 In 1892 the island was advertised through the arrest of 

 Deeming, alias Williams, alias Ward, who in 1888 landed 

 here from the Barossa. He had, it appears, killed eight 

 women and several children before he was arrested. It 

 will be remembered that while he was here he frequently 

 frightened girls who were in the garden. Just prior to his 

 leaving the island he applied for a situation as clerk to 

 Messrs. Solomon and Company, the negative reply most 

 probably saving some fearful tragedy amongst St. Helenians. 

 St. Helena at this time was at a very low ebb, and there 

 appeared to be no outlook of better things, though the 

 people are described by Governor Grey Wilson to be bravely 

 battling against poverty and suffering, being unable to 

 leave the island in consequence of the high rates charged 

 by the steamer companies for passage. 



In 1890 the Chief of the Zulu tribe, Dinizulu, son of 

 Cetewayo, arrived, together with his two uncles Undabuka 

 and Tchingana, his wives and servants. All three chiefs were 

 fine specimens of the Zulu tribe. Dinizulu himself had a great 

 ambition to become English, and made rapid strides in his 

 education, and before long he was able to read and write 

 with ease. He was greatly interested in music, and while on 

 the island learnt to play the piano. It was terribly ludicrous to 

 see his earnestness, but by taking great pains he soon became 



