PREFACE. 



It had long been very generally supposed that St. Helena was 

 a rocky and unproductive island ; mostly devoid of soil ; scantily 

 supplied with water ; subject to severe and unusual droughts ; 

 abounding with rats, and wholly incapable of extensive cultiva- 

 tion, or improvement. 



Whether these notions have originated with early writers, or 

 in hearsay information of passing visitors, or in wilful misrepre- 

 sentation to answer particular ends, it is unnecessary in this place 

 to enquire. It will be sufficient to observe, that they were very 

 prevalent, both in England and at St. Helena, at the period of 

 my appointment to the Government ; and that soon after my 

 arrival, having reason to believe they were neither supported by 

 facts nor appearances, I considered it my duty fully to inves- 

 tigate the whole ; so as to ascertain whether or not those obstacles "> 

 to improvement really did exist. 



The means that were pursued will be found interspersed 

 throughout the first part of this Work. The results have been 

 most satisfactory ; for they have not only exposed the fallacy of 

 all such notions, but have most clearly demonstrated that many 

 parts of St. Helena, so far from being desolate and barren, are 

 pre-eminently fertile ; that the island, in general, is capable of 



