MAY 1771. ST. HELENA: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 445 
or other exposed to the effects of a great degree of heat. 
Some are evidently burnt almost to a cinder, especially those 
which are found near the bottoms of valleys, as may be 
seen in going up Side Path, and probably Ladder Hill also. 
Others show small bubbles as are seen in glass which has 
been heated almost to fusion; others again from their situa- 
tion on the tops of ridges have been exposed to a far less 
degree of heat, or from their own apyrous qualities show 
searcely any signs of having been on fire, yet in many of 
these, when carefully examined, are found small pieces of 
extraneous bodies such as mundics, etc., which have sub- 
mitted to the fire, though it was not able to make any altera- 
tion in the appearance of the stone containing them. 
Thus much for these suggestions, fit only for those who 
can believe a Babylonian chronology. I pass now to the 
present state of the island, a subject which affords much 
entertainment to a contemplative mind, and more food to an 
inquisitive one than the shortness of my stay gave me 
opportunity to collect. 
Making it as we did, and as indeed most ships do, on the 
windward side, it is a rude heap of rocks bounded by 
precipices of an amazing height composed of a kind of half- 
friable rock, which, however, show not the least sign of 
vegetation, nor does a nearer view appear more promising. 
In sailing along the shore ships come uncommonly near it, 
so that the huge cliffs seem almost to overhang and threaten 
destruction by the apparent probability of their giving way ; 
in this manner they sail until they open Chapel Valley, where 
stands the small town. Even that valley resembles a large 
trench, in the bottom of which a few plants are to be seen ; 
but its sides are as bare as the cliff next the sea. Such is 
the apparent bareness of the island in its present cultivated 
state. Nor do you see any signs of fertility till you have 
penetrated beyond the first hills, when the valleys begin to be 
green, and although everywhere inconceivably steep, produce 
a great deal of good herbage. Among these are the planters’ 
houses, near each of which is a small plantation of cocos, the 
only vegetable they seem to take much trouble to cultivate. 
