The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-26
Cur Olio.
An Interesting Island.

than agriculture, IN one form OF anotner-
To those who earn their bread by tilling
the soil it is of the first Importance, as
indirectly affecting their materialprosperity.
But apart from the question of pecuniary
interest, there is an Unborn love of agricul-
tural pursuits, which is national charac-
teristic In some few privileged persons
the taste shows itself so strongly as to lead
them to indulge in farming for pleasure.
Others, whose time and means will not
allow of this, it leads to employ much of
their leisure time in gardening. Many are
obliged to confine its indulgence to tending
few flowers in pots. They are very few
indeed who feel no interest whatever in the
subject. The trait has shown itself more
or less in all the greatest races that have
swayed the destinies of the world. The
naughty Roman dictator, who yesterday
was omnipotent is content to-day to return
thu.pbly to his farm, and exercise his au-
I thoTlIy not over a nation, but over team
Of oxen.
A peculiarly interesting example of the
splendid results which have been brought
about by this national taste is presented by
the Island of Ascension, which has been
transformed from comparatively barren
rock, exposed to the most terrific and dam
aging winds, producing scarce enough of
the coarsest vegetation to afford meagre
sustenance to few wild goats, into pleas
ant and fertile island, amply supporting in
comfort and luxury a very considerable
population This change it took some time
and considerable trouble to effect; but be-
fore indicating how it was brought about,
short history and descriptionof the island
itself may not be out of place.
The island owes its name to having been
discovered on Ascension Day, in the year
1901, by the Portuguese navigator, Juan
de Nova Gallego. Two years later it was
visited by Alfonso Albuquerque; and
from time to time other navigators landed,
among them Captain Cook. Such was its
dreary aspect, however, that no one was
induced to settle on it. But Jack" has
always been famous for his ingenuity, and
even here it did not fail him. In the
northwest part of the island, which affords
the best anchorage for ships, there is a
small inlet called Sandy Bay. One of the
rocks near the landing contains a very
curious crevice. This was soon christened
"The Sailors Postoffice, and it became an
established custom to leave letters there,
well corked up in bottle, which were al
ways taken to their respective destinations
by the first ship bound thithcr which hap
pened to call This seems to have been
the sole use made of the island till the year
1915, when it was taken possession of by
the English, who erected a fort and placed
a garrison upon it soon after the banish-
ment of Napoleon to st. Helena
Ascension is situated far out in the At
lantic Ocean, off the coast of Africa, and
eight hundred miles northwest of st.
Helena. 1t is of triangular shape, eight
miles long and six broad at its widest part,
with an area of thirty-four square miles.
1t is one of the peaks of the submarine
ridge which separates the northern and
southern basins of the Atlantic. Its vol
canic origin is clearly shown by the numer
Gus crevices and ravines into which its sur
face is broken, and which are filled with
scoria, pumice-stone and other igneous
products. The highest peak, called the
Green Mountain, rises to height of 2,S7O
feet. From this the land, on the north,
sinks gradually towards the shore; but on
the south it terminates in bold, lofty preci-
pices. Communication with the shore is
frequently rendered dangerous by the set
ting III of heavy seas or rollers, which rise
suddenly in the most perfect calm, and
break with tremendous force on the beach.
The cause of this phenomena is unknown.
Only such plants as required very little
water were to be found OF these the
tomato, castor-oil plant, pepper and Cape
gooseberry were the chief. 1t was always
famed for its turtles, which abound to such
an extent that as many as $500 have been
captured in one year. They are usually
collected in two ponds or crawls, the water
of which is occasionally changed. They
can be obtained only by purchase, any one
taking them on the beach or near the island
being liable to heavy penalty, Fish
abound, of which the conger eel is the most
priced Another indigenous delieacy is the
egg of the tropical swallow, or ''wide-
awake" as it is called on the island They
are largely used as an article of food, ten
thousand dozen being frequently gathered
in week. In addition to the goats re-
ferred to above, the only other useful pro
duct was the wild guinea fowl, which were
found in considerable numbers.
Napoleons presence, even as prisoner,
in the island of St. Helena, determined the
English government to place garrison on
Ascension. This was in 1915; and fol-
years that garrison was entirely supported
on food and water brought there at great
expense by ships. The death of the illus
trious prisoner in 1921 did away with the
immediate necessity fnF keeping garrison
there but the admiralty were anxious il
possible to turn the island into victualins
station for the African squadron. To as
certain the practicability of this plan, they
appointed Captain Brandreth, in 1929, tc
make Q thorough survey, and use every eff
fort to discover water. We can imagine
him diligently examining every portion Of
the barren and uninviting rock, long dis
couraged by want Of success. With inde
fatigable zeal he and his willing workers
sank shaft after shaft, in the hope of dis
covering spring, however far down. Hi
strong belief that one did exist was at length
justified. In the Green Mountain, at /
great level from the sea, he found one at {
depth of twenty-five feet which proved t.
be capable of supplying all the wants of th'
island Large tanks were at once made
and piping laid to the garrison.
Having now abundance of water, tn,
most vigorous efforts were put forth t.
bring some of the land under cultivation
The most promising parts of the Greel
Mountain were frst planted, and sheltered
spots in other parts of the island wer
chosen, and the ground broken up and ir
rigated. Recourse was even had to exca
waiting in the side of the mountain in orde
to gain the desired shelter. The govern
ment did all in their power to insure tn