198 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — SEYCHELLES
Tristan da Cunha, a small group of islands in the Atlantic, half-wav be- tween the Cape and S. America, in 37* 6' S. lat. 12° 1' W. long. Besides Tristan da Cunha and Cough's Island, there are Inaccessible and Nightingale Islands, the former two and the latter one mile long, and a number of rocks. The population consists mainly of the families of shipwrecked sailors and wives from St. Helena, and numbered 105 at the end of 1916. There is no form of government. Education is almost totally neglected. Potatoes grow well, but grain crops are destroyed by rats. Apple and peach trees are productive. Bullocks, sheep, and geese are reared. Fish are plentiful.
References.
Colonial Report. Annual. London.
Report (written in 1£S4) upon the Present Position and Prospects of the Agriculture Resources of St. Helena. By D. Morris. Reprinted in 1906. London.
Brooke's History of St. Helena.
Barrow (K. M.l, Three Years in Tristan da Cunha. London, 1911.
Deberain (H.), Dans l'Atlantique. Paris, 1912.
Ellis (A. B. ), West African Islands. London, 1885.
Jackson (E. L.), St. Helena : The Historic Island. London, 1903.
Melliss's Physical and Topographical Description of St. Helena.
Oxford Survey of the British Empire. Vol. III. African Territories. London, 1914.
Correspondence and Further Correspondence relating to the Island of Tristan da Cunha. London, 18S7, 1897, 1898-1903, and 1906.
SEYCHELLES.
Seychelles and its Dependencies consist of 90 islands and islets with a total estimated area of 156 square miles. The principal island is Mahe (554 square miles), smaller islands of the group being Praslin, Silhouette, La Digue, Curieuse, and FeTicite. Among dependent islands are the Amirantes, Alphonse Island, Bijoutier Island, St. Francois, St. Pierre, the Cosmoledo Group, Astove Island, Assumption Island, the Aldabra Islands, Providence Island, Coetivy, and Flat Island. The Seychelles were formerly administered from Mauritius, but in 1888 the office of Administrator was created, an Execu- tive Council of 2 ex-ojficio members and 1 nominated member was appointed and a Legislative Council of 3 official and 3 unofficial members, the Adminis- trator being president of both Councils and having an original and casting vote in the Legislative Council. In 1897 the Administrator was given full powers as Governor, and in November, 1903, he was raised to the rank of Governor.
Governor and Commander-in-Chief. — His Excellency (Lt. -Col. ) the Hon. Sir Eustace Fiennes, Bart.
The population at December 31, 1919, was estimated to be 24,653 (12,396 males and 12,257 females) ; census of April 2, 1911, 26,000 (13,146 males and 12,854 females). The death-rate for 1919 was 1684 ; the birth-rate 25*19; marriages, 74. Number of births, 619; deaths, 414. The capital is Victoria, which has a good harbour and a coaling station. There were in 1919, 20 grant-in-aid schools. In addition, there is a secondary school for boys with a preparatory branch, and a Government free school. There is a Catholic secondary school for boys, and one for girls. Total number of children attending school in 1919 was 2,226 ; average attendance, 885. In 1919, 425 persons were convicted in the Supreme Court. The police force numbers 86 of all ranks (1919).
