Isle of France, 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



537 



island, and send a boat on shore with an officer, to report their nation 

 and business, and obtain the Governor's permission for anchoring. The 

 boat is generally hailed from the battery at Sugar-loaf Point ; but she must 

 proceed to James's Town to give the Governor information, before the ship 

 is permitted to pass the first battery at the Sugar-loaf. Ships of war as 

 well as merchantmen must observe this precaution, or the batteries will 

 open upon them. When the boat is perceived reluming, the ship makes 

 sail for the anchorage. 



On rounding Munden^s Point, the eye is relieved from the dreary 

 aspect of the island by a view of the town, situated in a narrow valley be- 

 tween two lofty mountains ; this valley is called Jameses Valley, opposite to 

 which you may anchor in from 8 to 15 fathoms, with the flagstafTat the 

 fort bearing S. S. E., distance from the shore about half a mile; this is a 

 good and convenient birth for watering. Upon landing, which is at a kind 

 of jetty, and passing the drawbridge, the way leads between a fine line of 

 32 pounders and a double row of trees. The town is entered by an arched 

 gateway under a rampart or terrace, forming one side of a parade, about 

 100 feet square, This parade, were it not disfigured by some mean build- 

 ings on the right, would have a handsome appearance. On the left side are 

 the Government-house and main guard-room ; the former is enclosed with a 

 wall, having the semblance of embrasures, and is called the castle : it con- 

 tains the habitation of the Governor and the public officers. The church is 

 fronting the gateway, and is a handsome building; on the right of which 

 is a neat little theatre, far superior to many of the provincial in England. 

 The principal street commences between the church and a small palisadoed 

 enclosure, called the Company's garden. It consists of about 30 houses, 

 most of them neat and well-constructed. At the top it divides into two 

 other streets, one to the east, leading to that side of the country ; the other 

 proceeding to the upper part of the valley, across a wooden bridge thrown 

 over a small rivulet ; in this street are the barracks, the new garden, the 

 hospital, and a number of shops well stored with all sorts of European, 

 Indian, and Chinese commodities ; but the houses are in general far inferior 

 to those in the lower part of the town, where the principal inhabitants 

 reside. 



The following are extracts from the Company's instructions relative to 

 St Helena :— 



When dispatched from India or China, you are to use your utmost 

 endeavours to round the Cape of Good Hope, and proceed to the Island of 

 St. Helena, if not otherwise directed ; observing to fall in to the eastward 

 of the island, and carefully run down upon it. to prevent surprise. On your 



