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chiefly a small hlack bean, on Avhich, as it seems,
they themselves chiefly subsist; and maize, which is
exported ahont monthly to Brazil, in a little government
steamer which likewise brings supplies to the
island. The convicts receive from government each
ahont 6s. a month, and have to keep themselves in food.
Those who are expert fishers are allowed to ply their
craft along the shore, a single man to a catamaran,
and a certain proportion of the take goes to the
government officials. There is no boat on the island,
even in the hands of the authorities.
"We were all extremely anxious to work up this
island thoroughly. Erom its remarkable position
nearly under the equator, 190 miles from the nearest
land, participating, to some extent, in the conditions
of the other isolated Atlantic groups, and yet, as we
were well aware, in all its biological relations mainly
a South American colony, it presented features of
special interest to European naturalists; and it
seemed to be of a size which made it possible in a
few days to exhaust at all events the main features
of its natural history. Accordingly we arranged
parties of civilians to take np different departments,
and the officers of the naval staff who were not
occupied in surveying volunteered to join them and
help them in collecting.
In the centre of the village in an open space with
a few fine bread-fruit trees there is a solid huildinO '
forming a hollow square, which seems to he used
chiefly as a prison for convicts guilty of offences on
the island, and partly also as a market. Near this
building a few irregular hnt rather neat-looking houses
lodge the governor and the government officials.
VOL. I L I