CHAP. III.] BAHIA TO THE CAPE. 167 



blj ; he thinks that there are hmd and stock enongh for a much 

 hirger number. lie says, " I have little doubt that the peculiar 

 enjoyment and content of the original few settlers has now 

 to a great extent diminished. It depended upon ample space, 

 and abundance, and undisturbed possession. Also, this and the 

 neighboring islands and sea abounded with seals, sea-elephants, 

 and wild goats, which were easily taken, and in very great num- 

 bers ; and there was an extensive traffic for the few with the 

 whale-ships which then constantly communicated. AVith the 

 increase of the inhabitants, however, their unbounded freedom 

 was curtailed, as there were more people who had claims to be 

 respected ; there were more mouths to feed, and more hands to 

 take part in the seal-hunting, etc., and to share in the traffic en- 

 suing therefrom." 



The loss of the traffic with the whalers, and the consequent 

 scarcity of foreign productions, is certainly the great difficulty 

 of the Tristaners ; but I doubt if even that is so great as they 

 represent. As I have already said, from eight to twelve ships 

 still call yearly ; and as all of them are in want of fresh provis- 

 ions, and the islanders are very shrewd at a bargain, they prob- 

 ably might easily get all they require. They seemed to us to 

 be fully alive to the advantage of making the worst of things. 

 Notwithstanding his satisfaction with the existing state of mat- 

 ters, Captain Bosanquet makes some suggestions, most of which 

 have been concurred in by the Secretary for the Colonies, al- 

 though the most important — namely, that the naval officer in 

 command of the South African station should be ex officio gov- 

 ernor of the island — seemed open to so many objections that it 

 has not been adopted. 



A proposal of Lord Carnarvon's to give two hundred pounds' 

 worth of useful presents to the islanders of things which they 

 can not easily obtain from passing ships will no doubt be high- 

 ly popular. They had, it seems, represented that a clergyman 

 was one of their most urgent needs ; an educated man, clerical 



