Page 546
An. 1691
The Strength, Town, & Product of Santa Hellena.
The Island hath continued ever since in the hands of the English East-India Company, and hath been greatly strengthened both with Men and Guns; so that at this day it is secure enough from the invasion of any Enemy. For the common Landing-place is a small Bay, like a Half-Moon, scarce 500 paces wide, between the two points. Close by the Sea side are good Guns planted at equal distances, lying along from one end of the Bay to the other: besides a small Fort, a little fur- ther in from the Sea, near the midst of the Bay: All which makes this Bay so strong, that it is im- possible to force it. The small Cove where Cap- tain Monday landed his men when he took the Island from the Dutch, is scarce fit for a Boat to land at; and yet that is now also fortified.
There is a small English Town within the great Bay, standing in a little Valley, between two high steep Mountains. There may be about 20 or 30 small Houses, whose Walls are built with rough Stones: The inside furniture is very mean. The Governour hath a pretty tolerably handsome low House, by the Fort; where he commonly lives, having a few Souldiers to attend him, and to guard the Fort. But the Houses in the Town before mentioned stand empty, save only when Ships arrive here; for their Owners have all Plantations farther in the Island, where they con- stantly employ themselves. But when Ships ar- rive, they all flock to the Town, where they live all the time that the Ships lye here; for then is their Fair or Market, to buy such necessaries as they want, and to sell off the produce of their Plantations.
Their Plantations afford Potatoes, Yames, and some Plantains and Bonanoes. Their stock con- sists chiefly of Hogs, Bullocks, Cocks and Hens, Ducks, Geese, and Turkeys, of which they have great