158 



ST. HELENA 



From this terrace the square or lower parade presents 

 a very pleasing appearance. On the left is seen the Castle 

 and post-office, the commissariat yard, poUce court and 

 sessions room. There are shaded by a row of most beauti- 

 ful trees, under which stand several large cannon ; on the 

 right arc the guard room, the custom house, the garrison 

 offices and the gaol, as well as a large store now called 

 the " Rickmers " which was formerly a story higher, and 

 well known as " Lawler's Hotel." 



The Church of St. James forms the southern boundary 

 of the square, and is a plain, unpretentious building. The 

 Portuguese are supposed to have been very an.xious to 

 conceal the situation of St. Helena from the knowledge of 

 other nations, and they succeeded until it was visited by 

 Captain Cavendish. (This is known from a manuscript 

 containing extracts and memoranda collected by Lieut. 

 Thos. Leach, a native of the island.) Captain Cavendish 

 called in 1588 on his homeward way during a circum- 

 navigating voyage. On the day of arrival he was pre- 

 vented from landing by a breeze, but on the following 

 morning a boat was put off to ascertain the most con- 

 venient anchorage. That selected was oft Cliapel Valley, 

 in itwelve fathoms of water. The narrator of the voyage 

 of Captain Cavendish writes : — 



The same day about two or three o'clock in the afternoon we 

 went on shore, where we found an exceeding fair and pleasant valley 

 wherein divers handsome buildings and houses were set up ; and 

 one particularly which was a church, was tiled, and whitened on 

 the outside ver>' fair, and made with a porch ; and within the church 

 at the upper end was set an altar, whereon stood a very large tabic, 

 set in a frame, having on it the picture of our Saviour Christ upon 

 the cross, and the image of our Lady praying, with divers other 

 liistories painted curiously on the same. The sides of the Church 

 were hung round with stained cloths having many devices drawn 

 on them. 



The narrative continues : — 



There are two houses adjoining to the church, on each side one, 

 which served for a kitchen to dress meat in with necessary rooms 

 and houses of office. The coverings of the said houses are made 

 flat, where is planted a vcr>' fair vine and through both the said 

 houses runneth a very good and wholesome stream of fresh water. 

 There is also over and against the church a very fair causeway 

 made up with stones reaching unto a valley by the sea-side, in which 

 valley is planted a garden wherein grows a great store of pompions 



