26 



ST. HELENA 



Oliver, who had done such good service in leading their 

 troops, his freedom ; and in other ways they showed their 

 appreciation of the valuable services of Captain Kedgewin. 



In 1684 occurred the Dennison insurrection, in which 

 Bowyer and Clarke were tried for sedition and mutiny, and 

 were hanged. Five more were executed in the following 

 year, and several were banished to Barbadoes ; and in 1687 

 the King's flag was substituted on the Fort for that of the 

 Company. 



At this time we read that the island was very productive 

 and fresh provisions were so abundant as to ensure a regular 

 demand ; therefore a clause was inserted in the charter- 

 parties of ships in the Company's service, obliging their 

 owners to purchase a certain quantity of beef, the price of 

 which in the year 1683 was i6s. per cwt., alive. But as 

 the demands upon the island increased with the prosperity 

 and trade of the Company, so the value of provisions became 

 enhanced, and the price of beef in the 3'ear 1707 was 25s. 

 per cwt. Tiie market rates of other articles in the same 

 year were : — 



Shortly after the establishment of the colony a species of 

 yam had been introduced from Madagascar. Planted in 

 the valleys it throve wonderfully well, as it requires a con- 

 stant soak of water for fifteen months to bring it to perfec- 

 tion. In its raw state it has an acrid, almost a caustic, 

 property, but after several hours' boiling it becomes whole- 

 some and nourishing food, and for many years formed the 

 chief sustenance of the slaves, as well as food for the numer- 

 ous hogs and poultry. These yam plantations are now almost 

 without exception thrown into pasture and other grounds 

 enclosed for cultivation of potatoes, which find a ready sale, 

 but which in earlier days were generally bartered for grain. 



