Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.3)

580 ST. HELENA. July, 1836. and the sloping banks are thickly scattered over with thickets of gorze, covered with its bright yellow flowers. Weeping- wiUows are common along the course of the rivulets, and the hedges are made of the blackberry, producing its well- known fruit. When we consider that the number of plants now found on the island is 746, and that out of these, fifty- two alone are native species, the rest being imported, and many of them from England, we see a good reason for this English character in the vegetation. The numerous species which have been so recently introduced can hardly have failed to have destroyed some of the native kinds. I believe there is no accurate account of the state of the vegetation at the period when the island was covered with trees ; such would have formed a most curious comparison with its present sterile condition, and limited Flora. Many English plants appear to flourish here better than in their native country ; some also from the opposite quarter of Australia succeed remarkably well. It is only on the highest and steepest ridges, where the native Flora is still predominant. The English, or rather the Welsh character of the scenery, is preserved by the numerous cottages and small white houses ; some buried at the bottom of the deepest valleys, and others stuck up on the crests of the lofty hills. Some of the views are very striking ; I may instance that from near Sir W. Doveton's house, where the bold peak called Lott is seen over a dark wood of firs, the whole being backed by the red water-worn mountains of the Southern shore. On viewing the island from an eminence, the first circum- stance which strikes one, is the very great number of roads, and forts : the labour bestowed on the public works, if one forgets its character as a prison, seem out of all proportion to its extent or value. There is so little level or useful land, that it seems surprising how so many people (about 5000) can subsist here. The lower orders, or the emancipated slaves, are I believe extremely poor : they complain of want of work, a fact which is likewise shown by the very cheap