He claimed to be supreme governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and three women.

He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the climate and of the productiveness of the soil.

The population occupied themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and sea elephant oil, with which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, Glass owning a small schooner.

At the period of our arrival the governor was still a resident, but his little community had multiplied, there being fifty-six persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven on Nightingale Island.

We had no difficulty in procuring almost every kind of refreshment which we required--sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant.
Having come to anchor close in with the large island, in eighteen fathoms, we took all we wanted on board very conveniently.