Page 545
An.1691
Of the several Owners of Santa Hellena.
from the main Land. It is bounded against the Sea with steep Rocks, so that there is no landing but at 2 or 3 places. The Land is high and Mountainous, and seems to be very dry and poor; yet there are fine Valleys, proper for cultivation. The Mountains appear bare , only in some places you may see a few low Shrubs, but the Valleys afford some Trees fit for building, as I was in• formed.
This Island is said to have been first discov'd and fettled by the Portuguesse, who stockt it with Goats and Hogs. But it being afterwards de- ferted by them, it lay waste, till the Dutch, find- ing it convenient to relieve their East India Ships, settled it again; but they afterwards relinquished it for a more convenient place ; I mean the Cape of Good Hope. Then the English East India Compa- ny settled their servants there, and began to For- tify it, but they being yet weak, the Dutch about the year 1672 came thither, and re-took it, and kept it in their possession. This news being re- ported in England, Captain Monday was sent to re-take it, who by the advice and conduct of one that had formerly lived there, landed a Party of Armed Men in the night in a small Cove, un- known to the Dutch then in Garrison, and climb- ing the Rocks, got up into the Island, and so came in the morning to the Hills hanging over the Fort, which stands by the Sea in a small Val- ley. From thence firing into the Fort, they foon made them surrender. There were at this time two or three Dutch East India Ships, either at Anchor, or coming thither, when our Ships were there. These, when they saw that the English were Masters of the Island again, made sail to be gone ; but being chaced by the English Frigots, 2 of them became rich prizes to Captain Monday and his men.
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