152 ST. HELENA 



None of the churches can lay much claim to architectural 

 beauty, the most imposing is that of St. James', which it is 

 generally considered should be the Cathedral, seeing that it 

 is situated where the greater number of people are com- 

 pelled to live, and also that it is in all probability the site, 

 or very near the site, on wliich the first chapel was built by 

 the Portuguese. 



St. Paul's is utterly devoid of architectural beauty outside 

 or in, but it is commandingly situated on a hill above and 

 at the back of Government House, and is surrounded by the 

 cemetery. 



St. Matthew's is a small iron church at Hutt's Gate, on 

 the road to Longwood. 



There are two hospitals, military and civil, the latter 

 presided over by trained nurses. 



St. Helenians are fond of music, and generally possess good 

 voices ; they are also very loyal. 



Canaries are wild and numerous, and are charming song- 

 sters, and there is a beautiful Uttle finch called the 

 "cardinal." " Avadavats " and Java sparroxN-s abound, 

 as well as small do\es. Other imported birds are fowls, 

 peacocks, guinea-fowls, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants, 

 partridges, minors and pigeons. A beautiful white gull also 

 makes its home on the island, the feathers of which are 

 used for boas, capes, etc., and make ver^^ pretty trimmings. 



There are no snakes, nor any noxious reptiles, reptilia 

 being represented by some harmless little lizards, two 

 enormous tortoises of fabulous age (which live in planta- 

 tion grounds, and are said to be over 150 years of age) ; and 

 a small species of frog, which is quite a recent introduction, 

 but which has spread wonderfully all over the island. In 

 some of the valleys a few scorpions and centipedes are found, 

 but their sting' although painful, is not dangerous. 



Bees are kept, and the honey is of very good flavour. 

 With so favourable a climate and a never-failing supply of 

 honey-producing flowers, St. Helena might rival Jamaica, 

 which annually exports over £8,000 worth of honey and 

 wax, the bee farmers there being chiefly negroes. It is a 

 cottage industr\% and would therefore be well suited to the 

 St. Helenians. The breed of cattle and sheep on the island 

 was originally EngUsh. It is still kept up by importation 



