580 



ST. HELENA. 



July, 1836. 



and the sloping banks are thickly scattered over with thickets 

 of gorze, covered with its bright yellow flowers. Weeping- 

 willows are common along the course of the rivulets, and 

 the hedges are made of the blackberry, producing its well- 

 known fruit. When we consider that the number of plants 

 now found on the island is 746, and that out of these, fifty- 

 two alone are native species, the rest being imported, and 

 many of them from England, we see a good reason for this 

 English character in the vegetation. The numerous species 

 which have been so recently introduced can hardly have 

 failed to have destroyed some of the native kinds. I 

 believe there is no accurate account of the state of the 

 vegetation at the period when the island was covered with 

 trees ; such would have formed a most curious comparison 

 with its present sterile condition, and limited Flora. Many 

 English plants appear to flourish here better than in their 

 native country ; some also from the opposite quarter of 

 Australia succeed remarkably well. It is only on the 

 highest and steepest ridges, where the native Flora is still 

 predominant. 



The English, or rather the Welsh character of the scenery, 

 is preserved by the numerous cottages and small white 

 houses ; some buried at the bottom of the deepest valleys, 

 and others stuck up on the crests of the lofty hills. Some 

 of the views are very striking ; I may instance that from near 

 Sir W. Doveton^s house, where the bold peak called Lott is 

 seen over a dark wood of firs, the whole being backed by 

 the red water-worn mountains of the Southern shore. 



On viewing the island from an eminence, the first circum- 

 stance which strikes one, is the very great number of roads, 

 and forts : the labour bestowed on the public works, if one 

 forgets its character as a prison, seem out of all proportion to 

 its extent or value. There is so little level or useful land, 

 that it seems surprising how so many people (about 5000) 

 can subsist here. The lower orders, or the emancipated 

 slaves, are I believe extremely poor : they complain of want 

 of work, a fact which is likewise shown by the very cheap 



