The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-07-09

poor and circumScribed that they were al
ways reduced to a Stunted fare, and same
times starvation threatened them with
lingering death. Such was the solitary
home OF this small and poor community,
their nearest neighbors 1900 miles distant,
across an ocean; cut off from all human
sympathy and knowledge; without socic- /
ty, friends, schools, books, religious inStruc-
ton or hope, except what they found in the |
humble teachers in their own little world |
Desolate as it appeared to others, it had its
charms and was endeared TO those who had
known no other. But the increase of the
numbers and the exhausted condition of
the little plots of ground on which they de-
pended for existence, warned them that they
must leave IT, Sometime since, twenty-five
made their way to the United States in
whaleships
The English Bishop at the Cape of Good
Hope, recently made voyage TO the island
in one of her Majesty's ships, to inspect the
condition of the little community, and to
remove the population TO Capetown if they
desired it. He found that the only inhab-
liable plot upon the small mountain island
was plain or shelf of land formed from
the debris of the overhanging cliffs, plain
of about four miles long, and from half
mile to mile wide. The soil is poor, and
has been nearly worn out. There is good
growth of grass, but no hay is made. The
islanders raised some potatoes aid other
vegetables, and have an abundance of the
purest water Besides this, they have
among themselves, numbering IS souls, 200
head of cattle, 800 sheep, 100 pigs, and
500 fowls and ducks, all worth from $4,000
to $4,000.
Among the islanders, the Bishop found
two old sailors, one T3 and the other 81 years
old, who said they had served in the same
ship with Lord Nelson, and who were I'M
willing to move 10 the Cape on account OF
their age. Still, if the others removed, IT
would be impossible for them TO remain.
They have large families of grown up daugh-
ters, who can do little except cultivate the
ground. Naturally, they were anxious to
, leave. The grown up sons Of nearly all the
families had generally bctaken Themselves
TO the sea for support leaving atemale pop
ulation considerably larger than the male.
The men are English, American, Dutch and
Danes, whose wives have come, tor the most
part, from the Island of st. Helena, whose
children the Bishop represents as fine, active
, healthy and modest young men and women
G The houses are, for the most part, about
= equal to common laborer cottage in Eng
land being built of stone, and matched with
long grass.
T The most remarkable member of this lit
e tie community was a man by the name o
o Taylor. He had lived in London, and haC
heard the bishop preach there. Apprised o
the bishops approach, he and party OF hi
, islanders went 10 the beach TO welcome DR.
4 Gray. He at once recognized the bishop
y and was overjoyed TO find that the report
which had come TO the island respecting
. the bishops visit and object were true. /
seems that this good man, moved by {
;, pious and benevolent heart, years ago came
TO this desolate island for the purpose o
teaching the little community the commo,
!; branches OF education and religion, acting
q at the same time the schoolmaSter aud tn
$ missionary. Most of the children had beef
under the instruction of Mr. Taylor, o
: whom the greater part read fairly, writ
neatly, and perform the common operation
IS in arithmetic. lie kept school part 0
q the day and night school twice weel
for the benefit of the older children VIII
: had left the school. The children wer
y very shy, and when the bishop went in :
c examine the school it was difficult to ge
, them to speak. Mr.. Taylor had been sup
ported by small sum contributed by som
y generous individual of the Cape, which wa
nearly exhausted. He had also inStructe
re both the children and parents in religion
:, making his school-room the house Of Coo
The Bishop preached every evening exceE
i ono, while he was there, about fifty ind
Or viduals attending, all of whom had bibl
- and prayer book. Having made his plan
for removing these out-of-the-world peopl
to the Cape, the Bishop left them, with tn
s assurance of a speedy return, and befor
e. this they are moving with the busy populi
es ton of Cape Town.