Star.
London, England, 1830-04-22 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 1830. PJW'E 7D.

Amount

Amount

Sterling.

TRISTAN DA CUNHA.

Extract from a Journal kept by a Gentleman, Pas-
senger on board the Triton, on a voyage from Leith to
Sydney, New South Wales:—

" Wednesday, 15th April, 1829.
" Off Tristan de, Cunha.

"This island was discovered by the Dutch, and for many years
known only I suppose by holding a place in the general chart. It
was at one time taken possession of by an American, who styled
himself Jeremiah the Ist, but whether he found its limits too small
to support his Majesty, or thought it degrading for royalty to culti-
vate the ground, by which means alone he could subsist, I know
not, but he soon abandoned it, and I believe it remained so till
Buonaparte was sent to St. Helena. It was then taken possession
of by the British.
One of the present inhabitants is named Glass, a native of Kelso
in Scotland, (who by his companions is styled Governor) was a sol-
dier in the artillery, and requested permission to remain, which was
complied with. At the time of the British abandoning it, he was
joined by a sailor; they had both wives, and have now several chil-
dren. Another man with his wife from the Cape joined them ;
terwanls three men, left there by ships, took up their residence on
the island as settlers. They sent to St. Helena for wives, and
another man servant for the governor. They all arrived by the first
conveyance, and were married in due form. All are now apparently
happy and comfortable, being in all increased to seven men, six
women, and nineteen children.

" mom the ship we had a beautiful view of the island. It ap.
pears about fifteen miles in circumference, rising all round perpen.
dicular, with the exception of the place where the inhabitants have
fixed their abode. The height of the highest mountain I esti.
mate at 13000 feet, double the height of the highest mountain in
Scotland. There appears to have been a volcano on the island at
one time, from the great quantity of lava strewed about it, but we
were told that on the top of the mountain there was now a pool of
water. On our landing we were met by the children, whose good
breeding even in this desolate place surprised us. They conducted
us into the garden, but being winter time and no crop on the ground
there was little to be seen. We next proceeded to pay our respects
to the Governor, who met us at the door of his mansion, and invited
us in to partake of such refreshments as he had to bestow. He has
a great number of cattle, and numerous flocks of sheep, with swine
and poultry of all kinds. The ladies and children were clean and
neatly dressed ; the houses clean and very comfortable. There is a
beautiful stream of water runs through the village, which, even in
the heat of summer, affords sufficient drink for the cattle and any'
ships that may call there for supplies. When not engaged in agri.,
cultural pursuits they go a whaleing. They have a number of fine
boats on the island. At one time there was a gun-brig wrecked
here, and 30 to 40 of the crew having perished, in the church-yard a
monument marks the plate where they lie. Since the administra-
tion of Governor Glass, an East Indiaman, called the Blendenhall,
was lost upon Inaccessible (a neighbouring rock), and nearly 50
persons scot upon the island, being there nearly two months; and,
after suffering the rnost dreadful privations, they constructed a raft
or rude boot, and got to this island, where the present inhabitants,
after great exertions, succeeded in getting all the others rescued from
their pitiful situation. They fed them for nearly ten weeks, until
they were relieved by a ship who took them away. and so much were
the inhabitants put about to supply the additional number,
that they had to kill even the breeding stock to keep them alive ;
and yet for this act of humanity does the Governor and friends stand
to this day unrewarded and unpaid, notwithstanding he has got an
agent at the Cape of Good Hope, who has represented the ease
home."