Dec 18, 1792 Home Providence Log Dec 27, 1792

Providence Logbook Dec 19-26, 1792

Remarks at St. Helena

Remarks

On my first interview with the Governor Lieut. Col. Broke, I informed him of my orders to give into his care ten Breadfruit Plants, and one of every other kind of which I had five. I requested of him that such places might be prepared to receive them as would secure to the Island a lasting supply of the invaluable Fruit which our most Gracious King for the wellfare of his subjects had ordered to be planted on St. Helena. Col. Brooke expressed the greatest gratitude at his Majestys benign Wishes, and had from the first intimation he received of the Plants to be left with him, prepared Ground for that purpose. The situation he left to our opinion, and it was determined that the principal Plants being taken to a Valley near his residence in the Country, called the Plantation House, the rest should be planted in James's Valley: accordingly every thing was prepared to receive and Shade them, and on the 23d I saw the whole landed from the Ship and Planted. Small as this part was of the completion of our Voyage, there resulted from it a peculiar joy and satisfaction to me that repaid me for all my anxious cares for its success. One Breadfruit Plant was given to Major Robson the Lieut. Governor, and One to Mr. Rangham the first in Council. I left also 1 Quart of Mountain Rice seed, which requires no other moisture than the common Rains.

The Peeah was the only article that required a particular description of its use, I therefore took our Otaheite Friends to the Governor's House where they made a Pudding of the prepared parts of the Root I had brought from Otaheite. It likewise can be used like powdered Sago, and may be called the Sago Root of Otaheite.

(Copy)

To Captain William Bligh to acknowledge the Receipt of the Trees and Plants.

The Governor and Council were greatly obliged and highly gratified by a View of the delightfull Scene on board your Ship, which impressed their Minds with the warmest and most animated glow of Gratitude towards His Majesty for his Royal Goodness and Benevolent Attention shown to the welfare of his Subjects here and in the West India Islands, and it also raised in them an inexpressible degree of Wonder and Delight, to contemplate a floating Garden (fraught with what may prove of inestimable value to that part of mankind how have the blessing of residing under his Auspices) transported in luxuriance from one Extremity of the World to the other. At the same time the Board could not help feeling a just Sense of Obligation on perceiving how strong an Enthusiast you have been in the Execution of His Majesty's benign Wishes; for it was impossible not to observe in every part of your Ship the disregard shewn to personal convenience, and the attention & excellent Contrivance displayed in the Accomodation and Preservation of your invaluable Cargo. The Board will carefully represent all these matters Home, as also the Attention paid by your Botanists Here, and they present you with their best Thanks in the name of their Honorable Masters for your kind exertions in every instance to oblige them.

St. Helena
24th December 1792

I have the honor to remain
 Sir
  Your most Obedient Servant
   W. W. Doveton Secretary

List of Plants left at St. Helena

	No. Plants
Fine healthy Breadfruit Plants one of which is 6 feet high	10
Sickly Plants and others apparently dead, two out the whole likely to live	13
Avee, or Apple of Otaheite, 2 Pots	2
Rattah, or Chesnut of Do. 1 Pot	4
Ay,yah, or Jambo Iremavah of Java, 2 Pots	5
Mattee 1 Pot Fine s[c]arlet die [dye] of Otaheite	1
Ettow 4 Pots   Ditto	4
Peeah 2 Pots	2
Timor Plants.
Nanku or Jack 1 Pot	4
Lemon China 1 Do.	1
Jambo Mare 1 Do.	2
Jambo Ire,mavah 1 Do.	4
Mango 1 Do.	2
Peenang, Beetle Nutt 1 Do.	2
Seeree boah, Long Pepper used with the Beetle Nutt 1 Pot	2
Seeree down, Black Pepper, the leaf used with the Beetle Nutt 1 Pot	2
Bughn,ah Kanangah, a Perfume	1
Total =	61

The Plants received on Board from the Island, were—

Pots or Vessels of Plantains	3	Number of Plants	3
Pots of Green Tea	1	Ditto	1
Do. of Coffee	4	Ditto	17
Do. of China Orange	1	Ditto	1
Do. of Dwarf Peach	1	Ditto	1
Do. of Curiosity Plants	17	Ditto	17
Do. of Ferntree	6	Ditto	6
Total =			46

Provisions Received on Board here. Bread 1140 pounds Rum 239 Gallons Fresh Beef 1390 pounds Four life Bullocks 3402 pounds Greens 8 Hay 5

Note. Bills bore 10 percent but the Company received them on account of the Service without any advance.

Remarks.

The Seasons have been so unfavorable to St. Helena as to occasion a great loss of Cattle, and but little feed for those which survived a great draught. A vast swarm of insects have destroyed many of the Fruit Trees, but when we Sailed there was an appearance of favourable Rains, that no doubt will restore every thing to its usual perfection.

Few Places in the World wear stronger marks of an unhealthy Climate than St. Helena when sailing along its burnt up Clifts, huge Masses of Rock fit only to resist the Sea. Yet few are superior to it for a fine free Air & healthy situation. In an extent of eight Leagues in circuit, a mass of Vulcanick production; but little produce from agriculture can be expected. Yet its Valleys & Hills in the Center of the Island admit of cultivation, & would produce more it is confidently asserted; if more industry was applied by the present possessors.

The Inhabitants of this wonderfull little Spot are not like all other Europeans who live in the Torrid Zone; but are healthy with good Constitutions. The Women are fair & pretty. I experienced no heat while here, nor felt any inconvenience from the Noon day Sun. The Air on the whole was more refreshing & cool than any place I was ever at between the Latitudes of 28 Degrees North & South. The Capital which is James Town lies in a deep and narrow Valley on the NW part of the Island. It is little other than one long Street of Houses. Above the Town the Soldiers are lodged in Barracks, amounting at this time to nearly 550 Men. The Houses are built after our English fashion, and are sufficiently cool, most of them have thatched Roofs. Houses roofed with Slates or Tiling in hot Countries have the most pernicious tendency, and I pronounce it as a certainty that when the People of James Town take that modern improvement, they will feel the bad effects of it.

Most of the principal people have Country Houses & small Farms where they generally reside when the India Ships are absent, for they care very little about any others, so that lodgings are scarce to people in transient Ships. I was however fortunate in living with a Captain Slatham, a well regulated House at the common Rate of 12 Shillings per Day. Our Otaheite Friends were highly delighted with what they saw here. Col. Brooke had them at his House and gave each of them a suit of Red Clothes. We are very much obliged to this Gentleman for his polite and kind attention. St. Helena has derived great benefit under his Government, his improvements are remarkable, but not yet completed.

Among the St. Helena People in general there was not that satisfaction expressed at receiving the Plants I expected. They did not consider our visit to them was to render an essential good to the Island, and was solely the cause which brought us there. During my stay we had a sufficiency of Water Cresses and Garden Greens, and the Governor was kindly bountifull in his supply of fresh Beef. Great caution is necessary in the expenditure of live Cattle; Ships are therefore limited to a certain proportion the Island can afford according to circumstances; but the articles are disposable at the will of the Proprietor, here we laboured under disadvantages, the India Ships make it of consequence to the seller to exchange his goods for Rice & other commodities we had not, my People therefore, altho they had all a little money to disperse of, could not get a Gallon of Potatoes for Sea Store, when the India Seamen had it in their power to supply themselves. This was hard upon them after a Voyage of five Months, which they had been from Otaheite.

If Shipping had not other advantage in coming to St. Helena than a supply of Fish, Water, and Water Cresses, it is well worth their while. The Road is perfectly safe with good Anchoring Ground and a bold shore. It is only necessary to have a convenient Sail set in coming in if the Weather is Squally, as the flows of Wind come heavy off the Land. Give a moderate birth to the Shore untill the Town opens and Anchor off it where you please. When I came to, The Flag Staff and Town were in one and I think we were in the most convenient part of the Bay. The outer part of the Bank is steep. Water is got conveniently from a Pier at the landing place, where from a Resevoir the Casks are filled with the greatest expedition. A Surf sometimes detains you. It is necessary to have a Small Anchor & Hawser for the Boats to ride by.

Dec 18, 1792 Home Providence Log Dec 27, 1792