A Lonely Outpost.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7714, 17 January 1905, Page 3

A Lonely Outpost.

The island of Tristan d'Acunha, at which the French barque Bogainville called while on her adventurous voyage from New York to Wellington, is in 37dog. 6min. latitude. It is twenty-one miles in circumference, rugged and precipitous, rising to a central conical mountain 7640 ft in height. It was discovered in 1506 by the Portuguese, ami named after the commander of the expedition. It was occupied by sealers in 1790 to 1811. In 1817 Britain took possession of the island. On Napoleon's ■death, in 1821, all the soldiers stationed on the island were withdrawn except Corporal Glass and two comrades, who, with some whalers, founded the present settlement. In 1829 there were twentyseven inhabitants, in 1873 eighty, and in 1887 ninety-seven. Captain Le Troquer reports that now there are seventy-one persons all told on the island, but there are only eleven able-bodied men and only thirteen families. They have herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, and grow potatoes, but have no grain to bread with. Consequently any passing ship is asked to exchange flour for fresh meat. There is no liquor on the island, the principal beverage being milk. There is no money circulated, all trade being carried on by barter. The oldest member of the community acts as a governor. A cruiser visits the island at long intervals to carry letters. Sickness is practically unknown. Two Italians who were shipwrecked there many years ago have married and) permanently settled on the island.