^0 
ST. HELENA. 
purpose. Owing to the scantiness of their stock, the inhabitants are 
obhged to kill their mutton too young ; it is therefore very indif- 
ferent; the same cause accounts for the beef being lean and ill 
coloured. The pork is good at the tables of the more opulent inha- 
bitants, but what is purchased in the market is detestable^ from the 
animals having been fed on the heads and offal of the coarser kinds 
of fish. The goats are numerous and well tasted. 
I have been thus particular in enumerating the productions of 
St. Helena, as its only value is in affording a supply to the fleets that 
touch there in the course of a long voyage. Unfortunately, these 
supplies are not so ample as they might be, even in the present state 
of the island, owing to the baneful spirit of monopoly, which has 
extended itself into the middle of the Southern Atlantic ; and every 
article above mentioned, except beef, which is sold at five-pence per 
pound, in consequence of a maximum fixed by Government, is at a 
price that limits its consumption to the tables of the officers. I can- 
not resist giving the prices of a few articles, as a proof of my asser- 
tion : turkeys, two guineas each; a goose, one guinea ; small ducks, 
eight shillings each ; fowls, from half a crown to five shillings each ; 
live pigs one shilling per pound; potatoes, eight shillings per 
bushel; cabbages, eighteen-pence each; lemons, one shilling per 
dozen; and pumpkins half-a-crown each. Fish, though there are 
nearly seventy kinds around the island, and most of them in abund- 
ance, is immoderately dear. There cannot be the least doubt that 
all sorts of fruit and vegetables at present cultivated might be 
brought to market in such abundance as to afford a plentiful supply 
to the crew of every ship that arrives. At present the farmers 
combine to keep up the price, and prefer leaving the fruit and 
