1 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



entirely consumed before he added fresh fuel. From his statement 

 of the expense of ccdlecting and burning, it appears that 20 days 

 labour, (averaging f>iily s^ven hours per day), produced 690 

 pounds of well viiriiied ashes ; this is 34t pounds from seven hours 

 labour of one man At this rate 100 men employed during 300 

 days in the \ear (vt'hich would be 30,000 days labour) might 

 manufacture 462 tons. But if we take the quantity at only 400 

 tons, and suppose it would sell in England at ^50, per ton, the 

 value would be £20,000. 



The cliarges of making would be nearly as follows. 

 100 Chinese labourers rated at £30. per annum, which 

 rather exceeds their annual expense at St. Helena 

 (see page 186) _ _ - _ £ 3,000 



Freight to England, at £5. per ton - - 2,000 



2400 old beef casks for packing - - - 2,400 



Contingent charges of cooperage, carriage to wharf, &c. 50 



7,450 

 Estimated value - - - - 20,000 



Leaving a profit of ' - - - 12,550 



It is impossible to form an estimate of the quantity that might 

 be manufactured at this place. The salsola plants in their 

 natural state are scattered over the exterior of the island, from 

 the margin of the coast to the distance of more than a mile from 

 the sea. Upon Ladder Hill, and Rupert's Hill, New Ground, 

 and many other elevated spots, as well as in the ravines, they are 

 generally detached shrubs, two or three feet high, and covering 

 a space of from four to eight or nine feet in diameter Souie are 

 much larger : but to the eastward of Long Wood there seems to 

 be a different species, growing like a creeper, the plants uniting. 



