CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
449 
called Colonel Pearce’s Revenge, where the road is completely over¬ 
hung by large masses of rock, which seem ready to fall. The rapid 
pace of the horses, the frequent sharp turns, and the overhanging cliff, 
excite some alarm in those not accustomed to them; and I must con¬ 
fess that I was quite satisfied when we passed the last turn, and were 
safely landed at the consulate. 
On our return to Jamestown, the consul and myself called to pay 
our respects to Colonel Trelawny, whom we found at his office; he is 
a tall well-formed man, with a pleasant expression of countenance, 
and a frank soldierlike air. He is much respected by the inhabitants, 
has made himself acquainted with their wants, and is doing his best to 
satisfy them. They call him the “ good man,” in contradistinction to 
his predecessor. He received us with great kindness, and asked me 
to visit and spend some days at Plantation House. 
Several hundreds of recaptured slaves are at present inhabiting the 
gullies to the eastward and westward of Jamestown. The most con¬ 
venient way of visiting them is by sea; some of our officers expressed 
a desire to do so, but the inhabitants seemed much shocked at the 
mere mention of such a wish. The males and females are separated, 
and both sexes are supplied with rations by government. 
The population of the island is about four thousand. It consists of 
whites, who, if the garrison be deducted from their numbers, form the 
smallest portion of the inhabitants; of negroes and their descendants 
of the mixed blood, and some few Chinese. The negroes were 
brought by the East India Company from Madagascar, and, with 
their descendants, now form the largest portion of the population. 
The first class include all engaged in trade, auctioneers, tavern-keepers, 
and mechanics. 
The number of Yankee “notions” displayed in all the shops, indi¬ 
cated that the island derives its chief supply of useful articles from the 
United States. 
St. Helena is a free port : the imports consist of supplies for the 
inhabitants, and necessary articles for the shipping that visit it; the 
latter can only be obtained at an advanced price. 
The number of vessels that touch annually at the island is now 
about eight hundred, having much increased since the opening of the 
East India trade. 
The usual rates of exchange, with the value of coins current, fixed 
by proclamation, will be found in Appendix XVI. 
We embarked in the afternoon, regretting that our time was so 
limited, and that no opportunity was afforded us to return the kind 
attentions bestowed upon us by the consul and his family. 
vol. v. 2 N 2 57 
