April.] ST. HELENA. 485 



are generally provided. The arrival of a fleet brings all the people of 

 the town from their country avocations ; this being the season of traffic. 

 Of a large fleet, the crews and passengers may nearly equal in number 

 the population of the island. 



" Upwards of one hundred and fifty ships annually, upon an average, 

 come to an anchor here ; which, of course, produces great fluctuations 

 in the prices of provisions : and there is sometimes a temporary scar- 

 city. The salted meat of England and the rice of Bengal supply the 

 deficiency. These articles being cheaper than fresh provisions, con- 

 stitute the principal food of the garrison and inhabitants. Salted meat 

 is issued from the company's stores under prime cost, and other articles 

 at only ten per cent, advance, including freight. Beef is sold at 6hd. 

 per pound, alive, having been raised to that price since 1808 ; and, as 

 it is principally destined for the king's or the company's shipping, no 

 person may kill even his own ox without permission of the governor. 



" The population, exclusive of the government establishment, civil 

 and military, is about two thousand, of whom about twelve hundred are 

 slaves, and three hundred free blacks. No stranger is permitted to 

 remain on the island without the special consent of the ' lords pro- 

 prietors,' the East India Company." 



In approaching this island, all ships must double round the north 

 point, and bring-to when they are to windward of the castle. They 

 must then send a boat on shore, with an officer, to report their nation 

 and business at the castle, and obtain permission of the governor to 

 anchor there. Without conforming to these rules, all the batteries 

 would open their fire upon the stranger as she approached ; and it 

 would be very difficult even for a large fleet of men-of-war to force a 

 passage to the anchorage. As Jamestown is situated in the most lee- 

 ward and low part of the island, ships in coming in are obliged to 

 keep close under the land, by which means their decks are entirely 

 exposed to the batteries above. Another disadvantage to which a 

 hostile ship or squadron would be exposed, is that of eddy winds, 

 calms, and violent gusts, which often lay them almost on their broad- 

 sides ; so that the natural strength of St. Helena, without reference to 

 artificial defences, is almost sufficient to protect her against quite a 

 formidable enemy. 



" A ship bound to this island must run down along the north side of 

 it, within a cable's length of Sugarloaf Point, and afterward keep the 

 shore close on board, and likewise within a cable's length ; there is no 

 danger, as it is bold and steep-to. On the west part of Sugarloaf 

 Point stands a small fort, and a little to the southward of it is Rupert's 

 Valley. The next point to the southward of the valley is Munden 

 Point, which, like the rest, must be kept close on board. You then 

 come to James's Valley, off which is the place of anchoring. 



" You may anchor in from eight to fifteen fathoms : the flag-staff 

 at the fort bearing from south-south-east to south-east-by-south ; 

 Sugarloaf Point north-east-by-east ; and Horse-pasture Point south- 

 by-west-half-west, distant off-shore about half a mile. With these 

 bearings, you have a good and convenient berth for watering. — 

 This bank runs out to the westward, off the fort, about a mile and a 

 half, and deepens gradually, from seven fathoms near the shore to 



