- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. xxxvii 



usually discharged at James's Town, was found to be six hogs- 

 heads in a minute, or 2160 tons in the 24 hours, after the absence 

 of rain. Comparing the size of this stream with the others on 

 the island, I compute that not less than 10,000 tons of water are 

 daily discharged from the springs into the sea in dry weather. 

 Scarcely any use has hitherto been made of this water except for 

 the supply of the inhabitants and their cattle, and for watering a 

 few small yam plantations and gardens. Where experiments 

 have been tried of irrigating the grass lands, even upon what 

 were originally as barren and forbidding as any part of the 

 island, they have been with a success which has astonished those 

 who made them. Mr. Dunn's improvements, at the Briars, 

 a beautiful and romantic spot near the waterfall, have most 

 clearly demonstrated the extremely beneficial effects that might 

 be derived from a skilful direction and use of the waters with 

 which nature has so bountifully supplied the island. His 

 meadows, though small, vie with the best in England. His 

 garden produces excellent grapes, peaches, apples, guavas, 

 oranges, plantains, and other fruits ; and all sorts of esculent 

 vegetables. This small example is sufficient to prove the capa- 

 bility of this fine island ; which is further exemplified by the 

 gardens of Miss Mason, and Mr. John Mason, situated near the 

 eastern side. Miss Mason's orchard is, for its extent, the finest 

 and most productive I ever beheld : the apples are of a high 

 flavour ; some of them have measured sixteen inches in cir- 

 cumference. 



It appears, however, by the records of the Government, that 

 this island has been occasionally visited by severe droughts ; a 

 visitation perhaps not less frequent in other countries. Great 

 losses of cattle have also been sustained ; but I am thoroughly 

 convinced, that those losses might have been alleviated, if not 



