390 
ST. HELENA. 
The mean degree of humidity of the air was 87.* There is a 
considerable difference between rainfall and evaporation; and at 
Ladder Hill, / 00 ft. above the sea, in the year commencing 12th 
February, 1800, the excess was observed to be 81 -42 in. It must 
be borne in mind, however, that the station where this was noticed 
is situated on the low land, near the sea coast, on the leeward side 
a spot where comparatively little rain falls. 
The rise and fall of tide is almost imperceptible, the maximum 
being, at times of new and full moon, only 2 ft. 10 in., and the 
establishment 2h. 9m. Perhaps the most remarkable of any 
phenomena connected with the Island is that known as The 
Hollers, or huge rolling waves, which have from time to time 
caused much loss of life and property, and which are as well known 
at Ascension as at St. Helena. The Hollers usually set in during the 
early part of the year; and the greatest and most destructive on 
record occurred in the month of February, 1846. At St. Helena, 
on the 1 6th of that month, there was nothing uuusual to attract the 
attention of the quiet inhabitants of the peaceful settlement of 
Jamestown, unless it was the marked stillness of the calm that pre- 
vailed, the S.E. Trade wind having entirely lulled for about ten days 
leaving an oppressive sultry atmosphere. The barometer had 
risen rapidly, and stood high, and the atmosphere was dense and 
heavy, with thick clouds obscuring the sky. In the evening, towards 
sunset, a few waves commenced to break upon the beach in front 
of the town, but there was nothing very striking in this common 
occurrence. Through the night, however, the waves increased, and 
at daybreak on the following morning the surface of the sea opposite 
the town had assumed the appearance of a sheet of foam, broken only 
by tremendous waves, which came like so many rolling mountains 
chasing one another, carrying everything before them, and breaking 
near the shore. All this disturbance was within half a mile 
from the coast ; the ships lying at anchor beyond that dis- 
tance not being affected, while those within, some thirteen in num- 
ber, including eleven captured slave ships, were, in the short space 
of seven hours, dashed into atoms. One of them, the Descobrador, 
a Brazilian brig of 127 tons burden, was with her anchors and cables 
literally lifted up , carried broadside on to the English schooner 
Cornelia, and both together driven on to the shore. So little notice 
* Appendix, p. 399. 
