The Communistic Ways of Tristan d'scunha.

Inangahua Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1237, 11 June 1897, Page 4

The Communistic Ways of Tristan d'scunha.

A Blue Book has been issued containing a number communications that have passed during the last nine years relating to the little island of Tristan d'Acunha, in the Souih Atlantis. A man-of-war "Visits the island once a year for maifs and to report on the condition of the inhabitants, who at present number just over sixty. a. Last v.%tur the Queen sent her portrait governor of the island " Who is,' however, reported- to be" very old and deaf, and to bave little or no authority" He received the gift with deep gratitude. It "appears that the sixteen families who compose the population are organised upon a communistic basis, everything being " shared out proportionately amongst them" no doubt upon the " to each according to his need " principle. The people do not care to take from the men-of-war any commodity which they cannot have in sufficient quantities to go round, Some time age a very un* favourable report waa made upon the physical and mental condition of the islanders, and the race was eaid to be rapidly deterioratng for want of infusion of fresh blood. Now, however, iheir health is excellent, and indeed, appears to have become proverbial. Neither spirits nor tobacoo are used by the inhabitants, the majority of whom by the way, are either descended from or connected with Mr Green, thus forming a parkin archai community of the earliest type. Education is imparted to children by a widow named Swain, a native of St. Helena ; but a minister of religion who could also act as doctor and schoolmaster is badly wanted.