DESCRIPTION 



THE natural strength of the island lies in its compact 

 form and size together with its inaccessible coast, formed 

 by an almost uninterrupted belt of rocks which rise per- 

 pendicularly to the height of about 600 to 1,200 feet. It 

 appears, when viewed from vessels . at a distance, to defy 

 entrance ; the lofty barren hills divided by huge fissures 

 and deep gorges with a total absence of any vegetation 

 other than a few patches of samphire and cactus, present 

 a most formidable appearance ; for none of the beautiful 

 woods and pastures of the interior can be seen from the 

 sea. 



Melliss, in his work on the island, says : 



Its isolated position, its peculiar fauna, and its very remark- 

 able insular flora, together with its geological character, present 

 strong reasons for placing St. Helena amongst the oldest land now 

 existing on the face of the globe. It is said that out of sixty-one 

 native species, only two or three are found in any other part of the 

 globe. 



On nearer approach the gorges appear -as valleys which 

 narrow as they wind inland toward the central ridge. 

 Bankses, Rupert's Bay (the sea shore of Seine Valley), 

 Chapel Valley or Jamestown, Lemon Valley or Spr agues 

 on the north side of the island, and Sandy Bay on the south, 

 are the places suitable for landing from boats or ships. 

 Jamestown in Chapel Valley is almost due north, and its 

 site was probably selected from its being the largest ravine 

 and the most sheltered. There is a good anchorage from 

 twelve to twenty-five fathoms deep. A chart issued by Mr. 

 G. Thomas, who was here in the 'Northumberland with Rear- 

 Admiral Sir George Cockburn in the year 1815, shows that 

 the soundings are very various. The sea-bottom slopes 

 gradually for a distance of one to one and a half miles to 

 sixty or seventy fathoms, after which the depth is about 



132 



