TRISTAN D’ACUNHA. 
9 
the largest of which is alone called Tristan d’Acunha ; the southermost, 
and smallest, Nightingale Island; and the westermost, Inaccessible 
Island. Bj a mean of the observations of eight different ships, Tristan 
d’Acunha is in lat. 37° 6' S. long. 11° 44' W. It is remarkable that the 
Lion had anchored here when she carried oiit Lord Macartney to China, 
Tristan d’Acunha is about 15 miles in circumference, Inaccessible 
Island about 9 miles, and Nightingale 7 or 8. The whole island of 
Tristan d’Acunha forms the base of a volcanic mountain, whose sum¬ 
mit terminates in a peak. That peak is generally covered with snow, 
but we saw it imperfectly in consequence of the clouds. We calculated 
its height to be about 7000 feet; but some observers have called it 
11,000, whilst others, again, have reduced it to something near our 
measurement, and have taken it at 8000 feet. One of our crew, who 
had been in the American service, and who, on a former occasion, had 
been left on the island to kill seals, informed us that there is a cascade 
of fresh water which falls on the beach, on the N. W. side of the island, 
and that with a syphon, water may be drawn into casks in the boat. 
The shore is covered with seals and penguins. Ships, on their voyage to 
China, frequently leave a part of their crew to collect seal skins, and take 
them up on their return. An American captain procured 5600skins in 
eight months, and might have loaded his ship with oil in three months. 
Our weather continued uninterruptedly fine until the 31st October, 
when in lat. 41° 8' S. long. 27° 36' E. we were caught by a very 
severe squall, which some even of the old seamen on board dig- 
