TRISTAN D'ACUNHA. 



Tristan d'Acunha is closely associated with St. Helena, 

 therefore a short account of it will not be out of place. It 

 is one of a group of three islands, Tristan, Nightingale, 

 and Inaccessible, in 37 S. lat. 12 W. long., and was taken 

 possession of by the British during the residence of Napoleon 

 in St. Helena. Upon his death the garrison was withdrawn, 

 with the exception of three men, who, with certain ship- 

 wrecked sailors, became the founders of the present settle- 

 ment. For a long time only one of the settlers had a wife, 

 but subsequently the others contracted with a sea captain 

 to bring them wives from St. Helena. They are a peaceable 

 community ; no drinking is allowed, and there is no crime. 

 The inhabitants are spoken of as long lived, healthy, moral, 

 religious, and hospitable to strangers. A supply of stores 

 and provisions was granted by Parliament in 1885, and 

 sent out by a man-of-war, as nearly all the able-bodied men 

 had been drowned while attempting to board a vessel. 

 It lies 1,200 miles due south of St. Helena and 1,500 miles 

 to the west of the Cape, which is the nearest land. This is 

 explained by seamen ; for to sail direct to Tristan from St. 

 Helena is quite impossible. A vessel has to tack again and 

 again to reach her destination. The Peak, 8,325 feet high, 

 is covered with snow in winter. On the north side there 

 is a good anchorage from twenty to thirty fathoms, and 

 generally a safe landing place, while abundance of pure 

 water can be obtained. But the sea is at times very rough 

 around the island, and ships are unable to get in to land 

 either stores or people. During June, July and August 

 the island is almost inaccessible. 



The Rev. E. Dodgson (brother of Lewis Carroll), while 

 Vicar of St. James', wrote a very amusing letter to the St. 

 Helena Guardian, which gives an idea of the difficulties he 

 had to contend with while resident there as minister. 



