672 Journal of a Voyage 
being nearly in the centre of the island, 
and two thousand seven hundred feet 
above the level of the sea, commands a 
complete view of St. Helena, and a great 
extent of ocean, in every direction, 
bounded only by the far distant’ horizon. 
Eiere the detached sceves and pros- 
pects, which we had been admiring se- 
verally, were now, with many others, 
brought inte one coup ceil, and certain- 
iy formed a most interesting picture; 
every point of the compass presenting, as 
it were, a new landscape, distinguished 
by some striking feature in the outline, 
or beautiful little valley in front; the 
whole forming a most superb panorama, 
painted by a hand which defied all human 
miutation. 
The light flying clouds, which would 
frequeutly come sailing along on the S. E. 
breeze, and involve us in a momentary 
gloom, considerably heightened the effect 
of this picturesque scenery, by snatching 
it, as it were, fora few minutes ata time, 
entirely from our view; when again, by 
their sudden dispersion, the whole varie- 
gated prospect would lie extended before 
us. 
The air on this peak, and indeed on 
all the hills of the island, was as cool as 
it usually is im the month of April in 
England; though it was now the middle 
of summer here, and che sun nearly ver- 
tical at mid-day. 
We need not wonder at this, when we 
consider, that the perpetua! breeze, 
blowing over an immense extent of ocean, 
beeomes quite cool betore it reaches this 
island, whose elevated mountains at- 
tracting end condensing the passing 
clouds, are constantly moist; and hence 
the evaporation from their summits is 
another cause of cooluess in the air, 
We now descended by a ruggid ridge 
to a telegraph station, calied ** Halley’s 
Mount,” where we were informed the ce- 
lebrated Dr. Halley had pitched his tent, 
many years ago, to observe the transit of 
Venus over the sun’s disk. From hence 
we went down another shattered ridge, 
on each side of which there was a deep 
ravine, that made us almost dizzy to look 
inte, | At length we came to Side Path, 
a narrow road cut along the side of a 
steep defile, which led us at last to 
James’ Valley, where we arrived at sun- 
set, very much fatigued, yet highly grau- 
fied with our twelve hours’ excursion. 
On repairing to the only inn St. Helena 
affords (the master of which officiates in 
the triple capacity of inn~keeper, mana- 
ger ef the theatre, and principal pertor- 
mer), we requested a beetsteak or mut- 
gen-chop, with all expedition, as the 
inthe Indian Seas. 
keen air of the mountains had given us 
pretty keen appetites. The Roscius of 
St. Helena, after surveying us for some 
time with astonishment, and throwing 
himself into a theatrical attitude, ex- 
claimed, ‘ Good god, gentlemen! you 
must havea very imperfect idea of the ex- 
tent to which humanity towards the brute 
creation is carried in this island! Why, 
gentlemen, there is more ceremony, more 
caution, used here in cutting the throat 
ot a bullock or a sheep, than there is in 
cutting the throat of a citizen insome of 
your European countries! In fact, gen- 
tlemen, no inhabitant can put to death 
one of his own animals, without the ex- 
Bice permission of the governor in coun- 
ceil’? 
“ The deuce take your Pythagorean 
humanity,” cried we; “ so we must 
starve, forsooth, on account of your af- 
fected lenity toa paltry sheep or bullock.” 
“Not so,” replied the hero of the bus- 
kin; “ British tars will surely not com- 
plain of starving, when there is good salt 
junk and plenty of grog at their service.” 
Though we were not perfectly of our 
host’s opinion, we were nevertheless obli- 
ged to put up with what he could give us; 
and the addition of a fish proved highly . 
acceptable after our fatiguing journey. 
The island of St, Helena was first dis- 
covered by the Portuguese, in 1508, on 
the twenty-first of May, which is St. 
Helen’s feast; and hence the name of the 
island. The English formeda settlement 
on it in 1660; and a few years afterwards 
it was taken by the Dutch, from whom 
it was retaken by the English under cap- 
tain Munden, in 1674, and has ever since 
remained in the hands of the East India 
Company. 
It is about a thousand miles to the . 
southward of the line, and nearly the 
same distance from the African continent. 
The coast describes an irregular indented 
line, which from point to point measures 
twenty-eight miles in circumference ; its 
greatest length is about ten miles, and 
breadth six or seven, 
ft is in most places fortified bynature ; 
and where not so, they have guns to 
point on every spot that is at all acces- 
sible. We were told that there were be- 
tween four and five hundred pieces of 
cannon mounted on the different batte- 
ries round the island; and that they could 
turn out between fourteen and fifteen 
hundred regular troops, independent of 
militia, which niight amount to a thou- 
sand more. The total population on the 
island may be about six thousand souls. 
They are vigilant on the approach of a 
fleet; and asno boats could land to wind- — 
