The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-12-07 00:00:00

REPORT ON PITCAIRN ISLAND.

A report has been received at the Admiralty from REar-
Admiral de Horsey, Commander-in-Chief on the Pacific
Station, from which we make the following lengthy ex-
tracts :
Shah, at sea, lat. 36 deg. 19 min. S , long.
128 deg. 60 min. W., Sept. 17, 1878.

" Sir,—l request you will acquaint the Lords Com-
missioners- of the Admiralty that as Pitcairn Island
lay in my track from Esquimalt to Valparaiso, and
the weather being sufficiently favourable for landing,
I took adv.anbage of the circumstance to visit that is-
land for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of
the inhabitants, and also to obtain refreshments on
this long voyage. Having sighted Pitcairn at daylight
on the Bth inst., we arrived at Bounty Bay at eight
a.m. and remained off the island until noon the fol-
lowing day, when we proceeded on our voyage. A
few particulars as to the present condition of this small
and almost inaccessible island, the only spot of British
territory lying in the vast triangle between Vancouver,
Falkland, and Fiji Islands, may not be uninteresting
to their lordships.

- -
whTichhe
4plopaurelamtroanlesatapnrdes4e9ntfennauamlelese,rsa9, ofl
noominaal ages, of
return
of whom is furnished in Appendix No. 1. By this
return it will be observed that there is but one sur-
tvhiveunar
uotfinteheersg—enviezr.a,tEioinizaaw)hethich
yitm,utni
ged, iaagteedly
abfoul73Bll,
daughter of John. h 1 , liktf,'akt et IV,
son' ol _Fletcher Christian, master's mate of the
Bounty.
The population may be described as consisting of
16 men, 19 women, 25 boys, and 30 girls. The deaths
on the island have numbered about 12 in the last 19
years. No contagious diseases visit the island, nor are
the animals subject to disease. A few medicines which
were sent from Valparaiso, in H. NI, ship Reindeer, are
administered, as required, by the pastor. Pitcairn
Island is governed by a "magistrate and chief ruler in
subordination to Her Majesty the Queen of Great
Britain," who not only administers the laws but also
enacts them. The are two councillors to advise and
assist the chief magistrate, besides which, the "heads
of families" are convened for consultation when
required.
The almost puerile simplicity of the laws is perhaps
the best evidence of the good conduct of the people.
The law is, in fact, merely preventive, no case of
theft, fornication, or use of profane language (appa-
rently the only three crimes contemplated as possible)
having been known to occur since the laws were
drawn up. The chief magistrate is elected annually
on New Year's Day, and is open to re-election. Both
sexes of and above the age of 17 have a vote. The
officq is at present filled by Mr. James Russell
McKoy, who is also steersman of the whaleboat which
he built, and which is the only boat on the island.
_

Divine service is held every Sunday at 10.30 a.m.,
and at 3 p.m., in the house built and used by John
Adams for that purpose until he died in 1829. It is
conducted strictly in accordance with the liturgy of
the Church of England, by Mr. Simon Young, their
selected pastor, who is much respected. A Bible class
is held every *ednesday, when all, who conveniently
can, attend. There is also a general meeting for
prayer on the first Friday in every month. Family
prayers are said in every house the first thing in the
morning and the last thing in the evening, and no
food is partaken of without asking God's blessing
before and afterwards.

Captain Beechey, writing fifty-three years ago,
says "these excellent people appear to live together
in perfect harmony and contentment, to be virtuous,
religious, cheerful, and hospitable • to be patterns of
conjugal and parental affection, and to have very few
vices." I have ventured to quote these words as they
hold true to this day, the children having followed
in the footsteps of their parents. The observance of
Sunday is very strict; no work is done; but this is
not in any pharisaical spirit, as shown on the occasion
of our visit, which chanced to be on a Sunday, when
everything consistent with not neglecting Divine
service was done to supply us with refreshments for
the crew, the chief magistrate arguing that it was a
good work, and necessary, as the ship could not wait.
Of these islanders' religious attributes no one can
speak without deep respect. A people whose greatest
privilege and pleasure is to commune in prayer
with their God, and to join in hymns of praise, and
who are, moreover, cheerful, diligent, and probably
freer from vice than any other community, need no
priest amongst them. The pastor also fulfils the duty
of schoolmaster, in which he is assisted by his
daughter, Rosalind Amelia Young. The instruction
comprises reading, writing, arithmetic, Scripture his-
tory, and geography. The girls learn sewing and hat
making as well, and the whole are taught part singing
very effectively. Every child and unmarried woman
at present has to attend school from 9 to 12, and from
1 to 3 p.m. Schoolin,, is conducted in the church.
house, one end of which is used as a library, open to
all. English is the only language spoken or known.
The Pitcairn islanders are of course entirely depen-
dent upon their own resources. They grow sweet
potatoes, yams, plantains, &c., and formerly plenty of
bread fruit, but these are nearly all dying out. They
have also beans, carrots, turnips, cabbages, and a
little maize. Pine-apples, fig-trees, custard-apples,
and plenty of oranges' lemons, and cocoanuts. Cloth-
ing is obtained alone from passing ships in barter for
refreshments. A few sheep, goats, pigs, fowls, cats,
and dogs. There are no springs on the island, but
as it rains generally once a month, they have plenty
of water, although at times in former years they have
suffered from drought. No alcoholic liquors, except
for medical purposes, are used, and a drunkard is
unknown. • The houses are well ventilated, and fur-
nished sufficient for their simple wants. Scarcely any
trees good for timber grow here. There is no money
on the island except such few coins as may be kept as
curiosities. The men are chiefly employed tilling their
grounds, farming, house-building, canoe-fishing, &c. ;
the women in cooking, sewing, hat and basket making.
All are industrious, and willingly take their share of
public work when required. This at present is enlarg-
ing the church house, to meet the waits of an increas-
ing population.
The only communication with the outer world is
by means of passing ships, averaging perhaps one a
month, and chiefly those on their way to and from
San Francisco, but this is precarious, as most ships
fetch to windward of Pitcairn, and those that do sight
the island are frequently unable to communicate. At
the time of our visit the landing was considered good,
but it was necessary to watch for a smooth, and to use
a light boat. They have no communication whatever
with Otaheite, and very rarely with Norfolk Island or
New Zealand.
The necessary articles required by the islanders are
best shown by those we furnished hi barter for refresh.
ments,viz. ,flannel,serge,drjll,half.boots combs tobacco
and soap. They also stand much in need of maps and
slates for their school, and tools of any kind are most
acceptable. I caused them to be supplied from the
public stores with a union jack for display on ships'

arrival, and a pit saw of which they were greatly in
need. This I trust will meet the approval of their
lordships. If the munificent people of England were
only aware of the wants of this most deserving little
colony, they would not long go unsupplied. I would
suggest that anything desilled to be sent be addressed
to the care of the Admiral on this station, either at
Coquimbo or Vancouver Island, to go by first man-of-
war. If sent by private ship, goods may never reach.
A few of the islanders have expressed a desire to
return to Norfolk Island—a not unnatural wish for
change—but the chief magistrate thinks none are
likely to go. The islanders, at my invitation visited
the Shah. No less than 68 men, women, and Children,
out of a total of 90, came on board, regardless of the
difficulties of embarking and the wind and rain. Their
poor thin garments were nearly wet through, and
many were sea-sick, but the pleasure of going on
board one of their own country's ships of war out-
weighed all other considerations, and made them
essentially happy."
Admiral De Horsey further says that he deems
it desirable that a ship of war should visit Pit-
cairn annually, and proposes to cause this to be done
during the remainder of his command. He also
gives it as his opinion that the colony is deserving
of attention and encouragement, as Her Majesty's
dominions does not possess more loyal and affec-
tionate subjects than this little knot of settlers.
The admiral thus concludes his report :
'A notirn anpears to prevail among the Pitcairn
islanders that Her Majesty's Government are dis-
pleased with them for having returned from Norfolk
Island (which, as their lordships are aware), they did
in two parties, the first in 1859, and the rist, I think,
in 1864), although their return was, I believe, at their
own expense, and they have since been no burden to
the Crown. This notion, whence received I know not,
I venture to affirm was without foundation, feeling
assured that Her Majesty's Government would rather
honour them for preferring the primitive simplicity of
their native island to either the dissolute manners of
Oraheite or even the more civilized but less pure and
simple ways of Norfolk Island. No one acquainted
with these islanders could fail to respect them. A
religious, industrious, happy, and contented people,
they will lose rather than gain by contact with other
communities."