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190 TH E A T L ANT IC . [c h a p . II
OAvn, and the present senior male member of the
community, Peter Green, is made their referee if
necessary.”
Captain Bosanquet doubts the necessity of the
emigration of any of the settlers even if the population
increase considerably, he thinks th a t there is land
and stock enough for a much larger number. He
says, “ I haA-e little donht th a t the peculiar enjoyment
and content of the original fcAv settlers has noAv to
a great extent diminished. It depended upon ample
space, and ahundance, and undisturbed possession;
also this and the neighbouring islands and sea
abounded AA'ith seals, sea-elepbants, and Avild goats,
Avhich AA'ere easily taken and in very great numbers;
and there AA'as an extensive traffic for the foAV AA'ith
the Avhale-ships Avhich then constantly communicated.
"With the increase of the inhabitants, hoAVCA'er, their
unbounded freedom Avas curtailed, as there Avere more
people Avho had claims to be respected ; there Avere
more mouths to feed, and more hands to take part
in the seal-hunting, &c., and to share in the traffic
ensuing therefrom.”
The loss of the traffic Avith the Avhalers, and the
consequent scarcity of foreign productions, is certainly
the great difficulty of the Tristaners, h u t I doubt if
even th a t is so great as they rep re sen t; as I have
already said from eight to tAvelve ships still call
yearly, and as all of them are in Avant of fresh provisions,
and the islanders are very shrewd at a bargain,
they probably might easily get all they require.
They seemed to us to be fully alive to tbe advantage
of making the Avorst of things. NotAvithstanding his
satisfaction AA'ith the existing state of matters, Captain