APPENDIX. THE island of St. Helena is situated in latitude 15° 55′ S., and longitude 5° 46′ W., in the southeast trade wind. It is about ten miles and a half in length, six and three quarters in breadth, and twenty-eight in circumference. The highest part of it is Diana's Peak. It is distant from the nearest land (Ascension), about six hundred miles, and twelve hundred from the nearest continent, the Cape of Good Hope. Its appearance is the most desolate and unpromising that can be imagined. Its exterior presents an immense mass of brown rock, formed of different sorts of lava, rising from the ocean in irregular, rugged, and perpendicular precipices, of a burnt and scorified appearance, totally void of vegetation, from three to fifteen hundred feet high, diversified with hideous, deep, and narrow ravines, descending to the sea, and in some places forming landing-places. The island is composed of lava, cooled in different states of fusion, which, with the total absence of any primitive substance, its conical hills, the puzzolana, and other volcanic productions found in it, clearly shew that it has undergone the action of fire. James Town, the only one in the island, is situated in the bottom of a deep wedge-like ravine, flanked on each side by barren and tremendous overhanging precipices, on whose sides and summits, huge loose rocks continually menace the inhabitants with destruction. The one on the left from the sea, is called Rupert's Hill, and that on the right, Ladder Hill. There is a steep and narrow road, called the side path, cut along the former, and a good zig-zag road leads along the latter to the country-seat of the governor. The first view of the town is pleasing, especially to those who have been long at sea, and resembles that of a scene at the theatre. Opposite to the town is James's Bay, the principal anchorage, where the largest ships lie perfectly secure, as the wind never varies more than two or three points, and is always off the land, and favourable for sailing. The town consists of a small street along the beach, called the Marino, and the main street, commencing from this, and extending in a right; line to a distance of about three hundred yards, where it branches off into two lesser ones. There are about one hundred and sixty houses, chiefly १ |