ST. HELENA 189 



tured the island in 1673 ; not because, as some reports say, 

 " he landed his men there from the yard arm of his ship," 

 but because with a sailor's eye he first saw the advantage 

 of placing a battery on it to protect the anchorage and the 

 shore from Sugar Loaf to Horse pasture point. 



New batteries have since been built, but still, remains of 

 the former fortifications can be seen. The old battery was 

 formed of ancient rubble masonry, and it was thought a 

 shell from a modem gun would ruin it. But while the 

 Boxer was in harbour in May, 1878, Captain Allington tried 

 the effect of a couple of shells from his heaviest guns, a black 

 mark being painted on the battery as a target. The 

 Boxer was 400 yards distant with guns fixed by the Captain 

 himself, with full battering charge. They were fired with 

 such precision that both shots struck the same spot in the 

 centre of the black mark ; they penetrated some depth, but 

 the aged battery seemed not a bit the worse for it, and it is 

 to be hoped the modem casement will stand cis weU, if 

 necessary. 



Plantation. — This beautiful spot was set apart by the 

 Company as the official residence of the Governor — at the 

 first settlement it was merely a plantation for the supply 

 of the Governor's table and for the growth of Yam to feed 

 slaves — hence its name. In the record of December, 1673, 

 Governor Field ordered "that Plantation" is to be at the 

 direction and disposal of the Governor for the supply of 

 the table for himself and others that are appointed to dyett 

 with him. In 1679 is a minute — ' Captain Beale hath a 

 house standing on the Honble Company's plantation which 

 he erected by consent of the late Governor Field. The 

 Company have no house but where the blacks lodged — 

 there being great need of such a convenient house as is the 

 said Captain Beales, ordered four carpenters to appraise it. 

 In 1709 the land was so bare of wood that slaves were com- 

 pelled to go once a week to Horse pasture to obtain fuel. 

 Record says " Our Masters plantation is quite destitute 

 of wood so that one day in the week it employed all the 

 blacks to fetch wood from Horse pasture and the Great 

 Wood — therefore ordered that fifteen acres be enclosed at 

 Plantation Valley and planted with gum wood." 

 In 1714 Governor Bourcher's successor complains that 



