Notices of
St. Helena.
from the highest'peaks, and take thefr-Qoprse abruptly
down, towards theVallieS, which they contribute to fertilize.
Storms are little known in the immediate neighbourhood
of this island. T h u n d e r .iw » ly heard, oriight-
ning perceived in i t ; from whencSdt is conjectured, that
little electric matter is.-.soattered in its atmosphere.
The.circuniference-of St. Helena measures ,somew.hat
less than twenty-eight miles.* Along the whole qoast-to
-leeward, or to the-northward, ships may anchor in perfect
security * in all seasons of the year; but the bank
shelves so abruptly afterwards, that the anchorage,ybe-
ing.in deep, water,, is insecure. The tide, seldom .rises
above three feet and a half; bijt the surge of the, sea- is
sometimes tremendous; and several accidents happened
in approaching or quitting the shore, until a wharf was
erected, lately, which renders* the arrival there, and departure
from it,_perfectly safe^
This littlespot was discovered upwards of two centuries
ago by the Potfugueze. It was taken from them by
the English ; surprised, from the latter, by the Dutch;*
and, lastly, recovered by the English, likewise by surprise.
The* steep eminences which intervene between
the vallies, that are the chief seats of population, render
the communication from one part of the island to another,
slow and difficult. Planters on the windward side of the
island consider: a journey to the leeward, onaeat of government,
as a serious undertaking. Several of them
take .that oppq$unilskj>^ to,, die
governor, which . islcalledy^tl^ e ^ M^tnes. ‘Vgping to
There.^qjlp: Helepa^pla'|iters'itw^io havej not
travelled'soTaVj Atpiescpit* ,1jm qnJt; p£ fc * governor
Aefe .arq - signals ,so^ pla$e<^ alf-oyer -the island- as,'jo
|||ye4osf®:| nptfre ,°f the approach of vessels to; any part
of it.
| The situation Helena, in the track of tbg^jdps
Iftdndl^ apd China .to Europe, induced tfe JDkectdrs
pf thebEast.India Company to |urn- toT
wardsfeEejq?derih^it a pMegjof convenient and comfortable
Ee-freshment,'•^particularly - in the, passage home: This
has .been effected at , no. inconsiderable pence. <_.Before
the island was/jnliafritqd, thte spontaneous, producjypns
«that it yieldecfiwbich cptild be;of any’use to. m^n„ are
said tof haye been little more thanfcelery^aild pUrslian.
Qattle, fruit&,-and yegjbtafeles have: ^ince bepn introduced
unto "it from India, Africa,,.and'.Europe; and human-industry
has, fr\a:little time, enableddt not only to supply
Sufficient provisions for, its ordinary soiourners,aAut tp
afford refreshments pf most kjnds to the varlgq&vi-sitors
that."stand in. need ,of .them after landing from a long
Voyage., The nu^tpps jof;suc-h visitors,.including the
passengers of tfre ships, lyin^hpre at
anchor, is sometimes equal to the iyhole, number of the
settlement, The chief officers, passenge$%'and invalids,
reside generally ashore, during the stay of-their respec;
IfotjceS pf
St. fielen^.