Historical records of the 91st Argyllshire ... - waughfamily.ca

84 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE1830. and the companies had to attend all drills andparades at the barracks in the town. There aretwo means of ascent to the battery, one by atraverse road about a mile in length, and theother by a ladder of six hundred and ninety-ninesteps,which leads direct from the town to thebattery.It may be easily imaginedthat St. Helena cannotbe called a lively quarter for either officers ormen ;the scenery of course is beautiful, but aftera few visits to the most favoured spotsit mustcease to interest. The island is also subject toextreme and sudden changes of temperature, oftenoccurring several times in a day, which is oneof the chief causes of its unhealthiness. It issingular that thunder and lightning areunknownin St. Helena, probably owing to the electric fluidbeing attracted by Diana's Peak and other conicalhills, and conducted into the sea.There was very little sport to be had, and thatwas the reason that cock-fighting was a greatsource of amusement. There is a racecourse onthe north-west part of the island near Longwood,which owed a great deal of itsprosperity toAdmiral Rous, who, in his younger days, wasa supporterof racing at St. Helena. Horses from