ST. HELENA i6i 



prisoners of war from South Africa has altogether altered 

 its appearance. 



In this garden stands the public library, the telephone 

 station and the museum. The public library contains 

 560 volumes of modern literature, in addition to a great 

 number of old books which may be read on the premises 

 but not removed ; nine monthly magazines are there, 

 and fourteen weekly papers, and during the stay of the 

 prisoners of war those who were on parole, as well as the 

 extra troops stationed in Jamestown, highly appreciated 

 the privilege accorded to them of becoming monthly sub- 

 scribers, and their support has cleared it from the financial 

 difficulty it was in some time since. But the residents 

 on the island do not take much interest in their library, as 

 will be seen from the fact that there are at present in 1902 

 only ten yearly subscribers, the rest of the funds necessary 

 having come from the casual visitors and monthly sub- 

 scribers. The museum was started by his Excellency 

 Governor Sterndale, C.M.G. It already contains much 

 of interest, and is well worth a visit. Here may be seen 

 specimens of cotton, flax, rope, dried fish, lantern fish, and 

 a beautiful collection of St. Helena ferns, made by Captain 

 Thomson, of the Bengal Pioneers. Specimens are here too 

 of lace-work and wood-carving, done by the little fingers 

 of St. Helena children, together with much more of interest 

 to visitors. 



In the centre of the garden stands a handsome foun- 

 tain ; this, when active, makes the hottest day seem cool, 

 while under the shade of the trees are several seats. Just 

 at the entrance to the gardens is a large building, which if 

 utilized would form a spacious public hall, the need of 

 which is greatly felt. This building was formerly a dwell- 

 ing house, and it was here that Napoleon slept on the L 

 first night of his arrival in St. Helena. Strangely enough, 

 the same room was occupied by Arthur Wellesley, after- 

 wards Duke of Wellington, who slept there one night on 

 his way from India to England. Concerning this I have 

 come across in an old book of St. Helena papers the fol- 

 lowing : — 



The Duke of Wellington on his return from India occupied the 

 house in St. Helena, which afterwards was assigned to Buonaparte, 



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