THE SETTLEMENT AT T R I S T 1 N . 81 



olitude upon the island, cultivating a little garden 

 spot, and amusing himself by exploring the moun- 

 tain fastnesses, and killing goats, with which tho 

 island at that time abounded. At the end of this 

 time an outward bound Indiaman which had 

 gotten out oi her latitude, hove in sight -saw 

 bis signal, and bore him to the Cape. Here he 

 remained a sufficient time to many a half-breeu 

 native woman, and to earn himself an outfit for 

 the novel life to which he intended to return ; arid 

 then, engaging passage in a schooner bound to 

 St. Helena, he was landed on Tristan, where he 

 has been living ever since, in contentment and 

 happiness. 



In due course of time sons and daughters were 

 born to his house, and with their aid he was able 

 to so extend his agricultural operations, as to have 

 potatoes and mutton to sell to passing vessels. 

 The island now became a convenient calling-place 

 for American whaling vessels bound to the Cro- 

 zets, and was also visited occasionally by home- 

 ward bound Indiamen, mainly to gratify the 

 desire of the passengers to behold with their own 

 eyes this wonderful little settlement in the wilder 

 ness of waters. 



From the sailors of these vessels, the colon j 

 received accessions, and these new-eomeis in 

 time became husbands to the old patriarch's 

 daughters. His sons (he had eighteen children 

 -ii all but mostly girls) remained with him until 

 6 



