MAYI77I ST. HELENA: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 445 



or other exposed to the effects of a great degree of heat. 

 Some are evidently burnt almost to a cinder, especially those 

 which are found near the bottoms of valleys, as may be 

 seen in going up Side Path, and probably Ladder Hill also. 

 Others show small bubbles as are seen in glass which has 

 been heated almost to fusion ; others again from their situa- 

 tion on the tops of ridges have been exposed to a far less 

 degree of heat, or from their own apyrous qualities show 

 scarcely any signs of having been on fire, yet in many of 

 these, when carefully examined, are found small pieces of 

 extraneous bodies such as mundics, etc., which have sub- 

 mitted to the fire, though it was not able to make any altera- 

 tion in the appearance of the stone containing them. 



Thus much for these suggestions, fit only for those who 

 can believe a Babylonian chronology. I pass now to the 

 present state of the island, a subject which affords much 

 entertainment to a contemplative mind, and more food to an 

 inquisitive one than the shortness of my stay gave me 

 opportunity to collect. 



Making it as we did, and as indeed most ships do, on the 

 windward side, it is a rude heap of rocks bounded by 

 precipices of an amazing height composed of a kind of half- 

 friable rock, which, however, show not the least sign of 

 vegetation, nor does a nearer view appear more promising. 

 In sailing along the shore ships come uncommonly near it, 

 so that the huge cliffs seem almost to overhang and threaten 

 destruction by the apparent probability of their giving way ; 

 in this manner they sail until they open Chapel Valley, where 

 stands the small town. Even that valley resembles a large 

 trench, in the bottom of which a few plants are to be seen ; 

 but its sides are as bare as the cliff next the sea. Such is 

 the apparent bareness of the island in its present cultivated 

 state. Nor do you see any signs of fertility till you have 

 penetrated beyond the first hills, when the valleys begin to be 

 green, and although everywhere inconceivably steep, produce 

 a great deal of good herbage. Among these are the planters' 

 houses, near each of which is a small plantation of cocos, the 

 only vegetable they seem to take much trouble to cultivate. 



