138 TRISTAN DA CUNHA. 
the island is a liigli pointed cone, resembling the peak of 
Teneriffe in miniature, from the base of which the land seems 
to slope gradualljr to tlie sea, where being abruptly broken 
off, a steep precipice of solid rock and of considerable height 
mai ks the line of the coast on every part except that which m 
opposite to the place where we came to anchor. Here a 
plain, covered with soft verdure, rises a few feet only above 
a sandy beach, upon which a copious stream of pure water 
falls from the perpendicular side of the former in a sort of 
cascade. Beyond the plain we could perceive several swells 
and vallies covered with thickets, the latter of which seemed 
to close in deep gullies as they receded towards the centre of 
the island. Every other part of the coast, as far as we could 
perceive, rises out of the sea alniost perpendicularly, like an 
old gigantic wall, Avhose height I should suppose cannot be 
less than 1000 feet. This abrupt and columnar appearance 
ol" the coast, together with the cone-shaped mountain in the 
centre, seem to indicate that the whole mass has been thrown 
u]> by the agency of subterraneous fire. 
llie ofiicer who went on shore reported that the water was 
a mountain-rill of" excellent quality, and that it fell so con- 
veniently on the beach as to be l^rouglit with great ease into 
casks, without removing them out of the boats. It is by no 
means unimportant for the officers of our navy to be ac- 
quainted with this circumstance. The largest ships of war 
are capable of taking on board a supply of every article ne- 
cessary for the longest voyage except that of water, which is 
no less indispensable for the health and comfort of the people 
than other species of provisions. Should we, therefore, at any 
