THE INACCESSIBLE ISLAND. 
95 
vessel, an extensive belt of sea-weed was found en- 
circling 'the island, forming a natural breakwater, 
and so preventing the violence of the heavy Atlantic 
surf breaking, as it otherwise would, along the 
shore. 
Before reaching the land, all, more or less, got a 
wetting, as the rollers break along the beach, but 
after a scramble all landed right enough, and made 
a tour of the settlement, which is named Edinburgh, 
in compliment to Prince Alfred, who visited here in 
1867, when in command of the Galatea . 
About fifteen houses are seen scattered over an 
open space on the north side of the island. There 
are several enclosures where potatoes and other vege- 
tables are grown, and the islanders possess, in com- 
mon, some four or five hundred head of cattle and 
a plentiful supply of poultry and pigs. 
As the day advanced, the weather changed to wind 
and rain, and it was with some difficulty all got on 
board in safety. 
During the visit to the shore a story was told of 
two Germans, who had been living at the well- 
named Inaccessible Island 30 miles farther south, 
who had voluntarily exiled themselves with the hope 
of obtaining seal skins, but lately nothing had been 
heard of them, and it was supposed they had perished. 
Throughout the night the vessel was steamed across 
the channel, and on the following morning the land 
was closed, but nothing indicating life was at first seen. 
