Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2010
From 1852 to 1904 the captains of Royal Naval vessels visiting Tristan da Cunha were generally expected to prepare reports on their visits and these were published, usually in British Government papers. These reports constitute a most significant group of primary sources for the history of the island and they also provide information concerning the attitudes of the captains of the vessels to the islanders and their society. An annotated list of these visits is presented.