partridges, pheasants and turkeys, with a large number of goats and wild pigs. We do not read again of the visit of an English ship till 1591, when Captain Kendall (of the ship Royal Merchant), who commanded one of the first three ships which set out for India, could, owing to sickness in the fleet, get no further than the Cape of Good Hope. These first three ships were the Royal Merchant, the Pendoge (Captain Raymond) and the Bonaventure (Captain Lancaster). It was deemed advisable by them that the Royal Merchant should return with the sick men of the squadron who were exhausted by scurvy; so on her passage bome sce called at the island, where her debilitated sailors derived much benefit. The other two ships were afterwards separated in a gale, and the Admiral (Raymond, was bever heard of more. Lancaster, however, reached India. Returning after many disasters he reached St. Helena on April 3, 1593, making a stay of nineteen days. According to the accounts given of his visit, it was not the place of plenty and beauty described by Captain Cavendish. When the sailors landed, their attention was attracted by a voice singing within the chapel, which they entered Their sudden appearance greatly alarmed the forlorn singer. until he found they were his own countrymen, and, to add to his delight, he recognized amongst them some of his did companions. This man (John Legar) was one of those whom it had been deemed necessary to send home in the Royal Merchant, but his disease on the voyage had made such progress that he had been left by Captam Kendal at St. Helena, as the only chance of saving his lie. Ha comrades had made him two suits of goat skins, and iis det, together with the climate of the place, had completely restored him to bodily health; but the sudden transition from a state of apprehension that he might never return to his native land, to joy, at the sight of his countrymen, and the contemplation of once more seeing his home, was too much for him; for having taken no rest not seep during eight days, he died from exhaustion and debility.

In 1603, Captain Lancaster made another calor He was then in one of a fleet of four ships outward bound in the interests of the East India Company. At this time the island was the resort of Dutch and Spanish shipe as well as

English, and the Portuguese, busy with fresh conquests, deserted the island. It was, however, quite a favourite post office with the captains and crews of passing vessels. The letters were usually placed under a boulder, and the boulder made conspicuous, so that people coming on shore could not help seeing it. In this way the crews of homeward bound vessels took news to England of the outward bound.

The Dutch traders were the next to take an interest in and to make use of this solitary spot, and until the year 1651, they found it very useful; but, after establishing a colony in the Cape of Good Hope, they deserted St. Helena, and the East India Company of Merchants in England, being by this time fully aware of its great value, at once annexed it with a capital of £72,000, part of which was laid out in the equipment of four ships, viz. the Dragon, Hector, Ascension, and Susan, all under the command of Captain Lancaster, and a fort was erected by Governor Dutton. The incorporation of the East India Company-that event so memorable in the commercial annals of England-took place in the year 1600, under the auspices of Queen Elizabeth. For ten years they held the island, and ultimately obtained from King Charles II a charter, which secured it to their use and benefit. This charter is still kept at the Castle in James

town.

EXTRACT FROM THE CHARTER OF KING CHARLES II,

Dated 3rd April, 1661.

And, that it shall and may be lawful, to, and for the said Governor and Company, and their successors from time to time, and at all times from henceforth, to erect and build such castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, colonies or plantations at St. Helena; as also elsewhere within the limits and bounds of trade granted unto the said Governor and Company, as aforesaid, as they in their discretion shall think fit and require, and for the supplying of such as shall be requisite to keep and be in the same, to send out of this kingdom to the said castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, colonies or plantations, all kinds of clothing, provision of victuals, ammunition, and implements necessary for such purposes, without paying of any custom, subsidy or other duty, for the same; as also to transport and carry over such number of men (being willing thereunto) as they shall think fit; as also to govern them in such legal and reasonable manner as the said Governor and Company shall think fit; and to inflict punishment for misdemeanours, or impose such fines upon them for breach of their orders, as in these presents are formerly expressed.

On the Company assuming sole right, they at once established a small colony, fortifications were erected, and emigrants came from England bringing cattle, trees, plants, etc., and in a short time the place seemed thriving. This prosperity excited the covetousness of the Dutch; so, in 1665, they attacked it, and were successful in gaining possession. But the English were not easily to be driven. out of the colony they had worked hard to form, and within twelve months were again in full possession. They had, however, learnt a lesson, and at once commenced fortifications. The original fort, built by Dutton, was demolished (a stone record still remains of this, built into the wall of the present building close to the entrance) and another built. This was triangular, and is supposed to form the basement part of the present Castle.

The place then took the name of Fort James in compliment to the Duke of York (afterwards King James II), and from this time the valley is termed James' instead of Chapel Valley-the usual term now in speaking of the valley is Jamestown. This year saw the great fire of London, and many ruined families sought refuge in St. Helena.

For nearly ten years the East India Company kept no records of their transactions-at any rate no written accounts can be found-but, by tradition, we know the island was governed successively by men of the names of Dutton, Stringer, Swallow, Coney and Bennett. After them came

Anthony Beale, and while he was Governor in 1673, the Dutch again took possession, but only after great resistance from the islanders, who fought valiantly. This time the invaders gained a footing in Lemon Valley (near Jamestown), but they met such a furious shower of rocks and boulders from the hillsides, that it was impossible for them to proceed, and they were driven to take shelter in their ships. Even in these times such a fusilade would be most formidable, but it did not daunt the Dutch, who waited till night. Then, espying a light on the coast, they made for it, and landed at a place called Bennett's Point in Swanley Valley, where they found a planter fishing on the rocks attended by a slave. This slave was coerced by threats to guide them through the intricate parts of Swanley Valley to the moun

tainous land near High Peak; but the islanders were again on the alert, and prepared to meet them with a force of 500 men from the island garrison. The Battle of High Peak then took place, and the islanders had to retire, the Dutch forcing their way down towards Fort James, into which the Governor and the islanders had retired. The besieged Governor and men resisted the attack for some time, but eventually gave in, and made their escape on some ships in harbour which were bound to the coast of Brazil. Very fortunately they fell in with a British squadron commanded by Captain Munden (afterwards Sir Richard).

He was proceeding outward to convey to England the East India homeward bound fleet, but on learning what had occurred at St. Helena he determined to recapture it, and accordingly set sail for the island, arriving on May 14, 1673. Unobserved and quite unexpected by the Dutch, he landed at "Prosperous Bay on the east, with about 200 men, under command of Captain Kedgewin. Fortunately they had a slave, who had escaped with Governor Beale, named Black Oliver (of whom an account will be found in "Jottings from Records"). He was well acquainted with the island, and made a good guide up the steep and rugged rocks till they came to a perpendicular cliff of great height, now called "Hold-fast Tom." This seemed an insurmountable difficulty, but one of the party, named Tom, taking with him a large ball of twine, and exhorted and encouraged by his companions, accomplished the difficult feat of scaling it. By the help of the twine a rope was drawn up, and he was able to assist his companions to the summit. Captain Kedgewin, with his little army, was then enabled to travel by Hutt's gate toward Longwood heights. On the way they refreshed themselves at the houses of the cottagers, and passing Longwood, took up a position on the top of Rupert's Hill, east of, and above, Jamestown.

By this time Captain Munden had sailed across to the north and appeared in front of Fort James about the same time as Kedgewin appeared on the heights, and the Dutch were so taken by surprise that they immediately surrendered.

On landing, the English placed two guns in position on a

hill to the eastward of Fort James, to protect the town from attack on that side: and this was the beginning of the Battery known to this day as Munden's, mentioned again in the chapter "Jottings from Records."

In those days of slow communication, intelligence of the surrender had not reached Holland before a Governor had been sent out to succeed the Dutch officer (supposed to be named Duke), who was temporarily in charge. When the Dutch Governor arrived, he anchored with his fleet of several richly-laden vessels, in total ignorance of what had occurred. Captain Munden had the satisfaction of taking him prisoner, and making prizes of the valuable cargoes. After this Munden left the island in charge of Captain Kedgewin.

King Charles II again in 1673 granted by charter, dated December 16, the rights and possessions of the island to the East India Company, as lords proprietors of the island. This charter, as well as that of 1661, is still preserved at the Castle.

It is well known that St. Helena was successively occupied by Portuguese, Dutch and British, as a store island for ships from India, China, etc., up to the time of the opening of the Suez Canal, and in these old times many regulations and orders were sent from England, as under :—

"You are particularly enjoined to render every acre of ground capable of cultivation, as productive as the nature of the soil will admit."

As early as 1675 Directors of the East India Company

wrote:

"We find there is wanting industry and painstaking in many of the inhabitants, which we will not permit to continue amongst you : for they that will not plant, and take care for provisions of their own, we will not supply them: but rather send them home under the title of drones.'

This threat was actually executed by Governor Roberts in 1708, and for the time had an effect.

COPY OF THE Charter granted to the COMPANY BY HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES II.

Preamble.

Dated 16th December, 1673.

Charles II by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the faith, and so forth, to all those whom these presents shall