HELENA, St, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Southern Africa. It belongs to no group of islands, but stands entirely alone in the ocean, about twelve hundred miles from land. To the sea it presents, throughout its whole circumference, which is twenty-eight miles, only an immense wall of perpendicular rock, from 600 to 1200 feet in height. Its general aspect is bleak and dreary, but on passing through the wall of rock by one of the few openings which nature has left, the scene is agreeably changed. Verdant and even beautiful patches of ground are interspersed amongst the rocks; and on the summit is a fertile plain, consisting of about 1500 acres, covered with grass, and capable of every species of cultivation. The loftiest eminence is called Diana's Peak. It is situated nearly in the centre of the island, and rises to the height of 2700 feet above the level of the sea. In this, as in most of the African islands, the rocks consist chiefly of basalt. Limestone of the best quality is also abundant, and various kinds of volcanic rocks are scattered about the island in considerable quantities. There are only four small openings in the rock, which, like a natural bulwark, surrounds St Helena; and on the largest of these, where alone a little beach appears, James Town has been built. It is entered by an arched gateway, within which is a handsome parade, about one hundred feet square. Here are the government-house and the main guard-room. Within the former is the residence of the governor and the public officers. The principal street in James Town contains about thirty houses, most of which are neat and well built. The number of English families upon the island amounts to between two and three hundred. St Helena is chiefly of importance as a place of refreshment for vessels returning from the East Indies. There is abundance of excellent water, and fresh provisions can be obtained here, though they are neither so plentiful nor so cheap as those of the Cape of Good Hope.
St Helena was first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, on St Helena's day; whence its name. They stocked it with different kinds of useful animals; but whether they ever settled a colony on it or not is uncertain. The Portuguese having either abandoned or never taken possession of it, the Dutch became its masters, and kept possession of it till the year 1600, when they were driven out by the English. In 1673 the Dutch retook it by surprise; but a short time afterwards it was recovered by the brave Captain Munden, who also took three Dutch East India-men then lying in the harbour. On this occasion the Hollanders had fortified the landing place, of which there is only one on the island, and erected batteries of great guns to prevent a descent; but the English having knowledge of a small creek, where only two men abreast could creep up, climbed to the top of the rock in the night, and appearing the next morning behind the batteries, the Dutch were so terrified that they threw down their arms, and surrendered at discretion. This creek has since been fortified, and a battery of large cannon placed at the entrance; so that now the island is rendered perfectly secure against all regular approaches or sudden attacks.
St Helena has acquired no small celebrity as the place of confinement of Napoleon Bonaparte, ex-emperor of France. The illustrious exile arrived there on the 17th of October 1815, and remained in the island till his death, on the 5th of May 1821. He was buried in a retired spot not far from Longwood, the place of his residence. Long. 5. 48. W. Lat. 15. 55. S.