TRISTAN DA CUNHA, 
CHAP. VI. 
THE ISLANDS OF TRISTAN DA CUNIIA AND AMSTERDAM. 
Advantageous Situation of Tristan da Cunha — Description and Dimensions of 
the Island of Amsterdam — Crater — Other volcanic Appearances — Thermal 
Springs — Boiling Fish in them — Sharks — Observations on the digestive 
Powers of the Stomachs of Animals — Birds taken on the Island — Plants — 
Proofs of its being a new Island — Examples of new Creations — Theories of 
the Earth — Seal-Catchers found on the Island. 
As the three uninhabited islands of Tristan da Cunha are 
situated nearly in the track of ships on their outward-bound 
passage to the Indian Ocean, we steered directly for them ; 
and on the 31st of December we anchored on the north side 
of the principal island, in 32 fathoms, at the distance of 
about half a mile onl}' from the shore. As it Avas late in the 
day when the ships anchored, little communication was had 
with the shore ; but the evening was spent in laying our plan 
for accomplishing a complete tour of the island, by setting 
out from the ship at an early hour the following morning. 
This plan was, ho^vever, frustrated by a sudden gust of wind 
driving the Lion from her anchorage, so that I can give only 
a very general idea of the nature and extent of this island. 
Its situation is in latitude 37° T south, and longitude, accord- 
ing to our chronometers, 12° 10' west. It does not appear to 
})e more than ten or twelve miles in circuit. In the centre of 
