332 ISLAND OF ASCENSION. [1829. 



resembling ochre. A fine black earth covers the bottoms of the valleys, 

 which are now in a fine state of cultivation by the little military colony 

 before alluded to. The island is composed of several conic hills, from 

 two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty yards in height. Green 

 Mountain has a double top, rising in two peaks, like the Grecian Par- 

 nassus. In almost every part of the island, as Mr. Purdy justly ob- 

 serves, are found prodigious quantities of rocks full of holes like a 

 honeycomb ; together with calcined stones, very light, and pumice- 

 stones. " The rocks, lying upon each other in a very irregular way, 

 and mostly on the declivity of hills, leave great chasms between them ; 

 and as they have very little solidity, an observer runs some risk who 

 ventures without caution upon them." " About the middle of the 

 island, and between the hills, there are several little plains, which are 

 divided into small spaces, so remarkably distributed that you would 

 take them for so many pieces of land cleared of stones, and separated 

 from each other by long walls." 



According to the statement of the officers of the English brig 

 Slaney, who visited this island in February, 1827, Ascension was 

 then (under the government of Lieutenant-colonel Nicholls) in a most 

 flourishing state of progressive improvement as to its resources, both 

 natural and artificial. "Roads are constructing from the several 

 springs (sixteen in number) to convey water to the garrison ; and 

 hopes were entertained of being able to supply a squadron with that 

 essential article in the course of a year, by means of iron pipes from 

 the principal spring to a reservoir near the beach. Pasturage for cat- 

 tle is making its appearance. Sheep, turkeys, guinea-fowls, and live- 

 stock of every description thrive well. Fruit, such as pines, Indian 

 gooseberries, and plantains have been successfully cultivated. Pota- 

 toes, onions, carrots, pease, French beans, and almost every esculent 

 vegetable have been produced upon the island ; and thus, from a desert 

 cinder, nature has been courted successfully to yield most of her use- 

 ful vegetable productions. Only two deaths from sickness have 

 occurred at Ascension during the last two years [1825 and 1826] ; 

 and when we consider that gales of wind are unknown to have visited 

 the anchorage there, the value of the island as a rendezvous and a 

 depot for stores and provisions, for a squadron of observation, des- 

 tined to cruise either on the African or Brazilian coast hereafter, 

 will obviously repay the liberal attention that has been bestowed 

 upon it." 



A short time after the visit of the brig Slaney, the William Harris, 

 a transport, landed at the island a cargo of live-stock — horses, hares, 

 rabbits, pheasants, poultry, partridges, &c, seeds of vegetables, agri- 

 cultural implements, and a supply of necessaries for the garrison, who 

 all enjoyed very excellent health. In return, she took a large quantity 

 of fine turtle, with which the island abounds ; and, according to Cap- 

 tain Lesley, it " furnishes the finest in creation," being " not only fat 

 and large, but in the highest perfection for eating. Their weight, in 

 general, is from one to seven hundred pounds. They are, of all I ever 

 tasted, the fattest and finest ; all others I ever saw before bear no com- 



