698 
rendered the guns on the heights more efficacious for 
annoying an enemy, introduced the use of terra puzzo- 
Jana in the formation of aqueducts, and applied his at- 
tention, by means of honorary rewards and religious 
instruction, to improve the character of the slaves. 
Many important agricultural improvements were intro- 
duced by Governor Beatson, and particularly the use 
of the plough in the tillage 
tracts relative to the island, he has minutely pointed 
out its various capabilities, and suggested divers plans 
for its better administration and culture. The greatest 
want under which the settlement labours, isthe scarci- 
ty of fuel, and coals have actually been carried thither 
‘from England. But the last mentioned writer main+ 
tains, that, with ordinary care, the island. might be 
made to produce in’ a few years a:sufficiency of wood 
‘for its own consumption in fuel, and for all the other 
oses of life. 
he island of St Helena, when first seen at sea; pre- 
sents the appearance of a naked and rugged rock; ex- 
tremely abrupt at its northern extremity, but» more 
shelving towards the south. Upon a nearer approach, 
the central eminences are perceived clothed with ver- 
dure, and towering to the clouds. Upon drawing still 
nearer, these are again shut out from the view, and no- 
thing is beheld but a girdle of inaccessible precipices 
overhanging the ocean, some of them exhibiting the 
most. fantastic shapes, and others, rent down to their 
base, disclosing the most hideous chasms. These rocks 
are principally basaltic; and the strata:are observed to 
‘lie in every possible variety of direction. The whole 
mass has every appearance of having been produced by 
a submarine volcano; or; what some consider more pro- 
bable, being the summit, of a great submarine moun- 
tain, ‘hicks had formerly been a volcano. The sea 
around the coast is of an unfathomable depth, and ves- 
sels may pass within a cable’s length of almost perpen- 
dicular cliffs 1600 feet in height. The only anchorage 
is in Chapel Valley bay on the north-west and leeward 
-side of the island, where ships may: lie in smooth water 
from 8 to 25 fathoms deep. The tide rises sometimes 
to the height of five feet ; and the surf upon the shore, 
especially about the season of Christmas, is very tre- 
mendous. Many lives were lost in approaching and 
leaving the land in boats, till the new w was con 
structed by Governor Brooke in 1790; but there is 
only one instance of a shipwreck upon the island, 
which aorgeene at the time of its discovery ; and only 
one also: of a vessel being windbound in the roads. The 
variation of the compass. on the coast in 1768, was 12° 
47’ west; in 1777, 13°15’ 5 in 1796, 159 47’ 30”; in 
1802, 16°.30’.. The principal inlets by which the island 
ean be approached, are James's Town, Rupert's Bay, 
Lemon Valley on ithe north-west side, and Sandy Bay 
on the south-east ; all of them regularly’ and strong] 
fortified. There are likewise several ravines where it 
may be possible, though with great difficulty, for indi- 
viduals to effect an entrance ; but even these are either 
protected by batteries, or easily defended by rolling 
stones from the heights. The island is 103’ miles» at 
its greatest length, 63 in breadth, about'28 in circum- 
ference, and contains 30,000 »cres on itssurface, There 
- — a aa the whole of this extent ;! the 
gest o: which, at Longwood, comprises ‘1500 acres 
of fine land, sloping gentiy-08 the soutinivett, 
St Helena is unequally divided by a lofty chain of 
hills, which runs in a curved direction nearly east and 
of the soil. In a volume of 
HELENA. 
‘St Heleng. zeal and ability; in whatever concerned’ the welfare of 
“y= the settlement. He particularly erected telegraphs, 
west, bending towards the south at each extremity; and St 
from which alternate ridges.and valleys branch off in ya- 
rious directions, but chiefly north and south. Towards 
the eastern termination of this chain is Diana’s Peak, 
the highest point of land on ‘the island, rising nearly 
2700 feet above the level of the sea. On the same 
and Halley's 
ridge are Cuckold’s Point, 2672 feet ; 
Mount, 2467. Nearer the coast, and overhz the 
sea, are Flag-staff, 2272; and Barnscliff, 2015. In the 
centre of the island is the alarm house, 1960. High 
Knoll, to the southward of Ladder Hill, is 1903 ; and 
Longwood-house, the official country residence of the 
lieutenant-governor, is 1762 feet. On coming round to 
a esti A ae ke a the i _James’s 
ey opens to view. It is bounded by two 
rocky mountains, Rupert’s on those boucen 
on the west; which gradually reeede from each otheras . 
they approach the coast, where they terminate abruptly 
in two sand perpendicular cliffs. The space — 
inclosed between these heights is of a triangular form, 
about a mile and‘a halfiin , and.350 yards broad 
its base} which faces the sea. In this, confined spot: is 
situated James's town, which presents in its. le. 
pearance; a peculiar combination. of military “ 
and rural simplicity. A: fortified line extends from cliff 
to cliff, fronting the anchorage, and covered with.can- 
non, nearly level with the water's edge. _ After passing 
the draw-bridge, and advancing between a double row 
of Peepel trees, (a species of India banian,). you-enter 
the town by an arched: gate-way, under) a ‘rampart, or 
terrace, which forms one side of a handsome, parade, 
about 100 feet square. On the left side is the govern- 
ment-house, usually named. the Castle, inclosed; with a 
wall; and direetly fronting the gate-way isthe chureh, 
a plain but not inelegant structure. The principal 
street, containing about 28 houses, commences between 
the church and the Company’s garden; and, im its pro- 
gress, divides into two other streets, one on the. east 
side leading into the country, and) the other, which has 
a number of well furnished shops, proceeding ‘towards 
the upper part of the valley; where the barracks,’ hos- 
pital, and new garden are situated. ‘The houses, gene- 
rally two stories high, are neatly built in the English 
style, and well white-washed.. The town contains man: 
little gardens, groves, and. shaded. walks, ;and. ex' 
the whole length of the valley, which gradually decrea- 
ses in breadth, till at last there is room only for a single 
house. . The view on each side, from the streets, is aw- 
fully sublime, and! discovers enormous masses of rock 
impending over the’ valley, in a manner i 
alarming to the mind of a stranger... The roads whi 
give access to the interior of the island, and which have 
been formed with incredible labour, by, blowing up the 
rocks, are carried along the sides of Rupert's and Lad- 
der Hillin a zig-zag direction ;-and: the ascent to the 
summit is so easy,. oxen and carts pass along the 
apparently perpendicular precipice’ without di or 
danger. For thes of two miles, nothing but 
sterility and a rocky wilderness meets the eye of the the country 
traveller ; but the sight is soon gratified by the sudden 
prospect of woody heights, verdant lawns, cultivated 
plantations, and handsome little country seats. The 
summit of High Knoll; particularly, presents a beauti- 
ful series of such prospects, surrounded by a lofty ri 
of hills and precipices, which completely close in» 
view; and finely contrast with the softer and richer 
scenes which they inclose. \On the south side of the 
Knoll, about three miles from the town, is the gover- 
nor’s country residence, called Plantation House, 2 
