Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-08

as protection against the sun and the
weather, as 1T was frequently laid aside.
" Their native modesty, assisted by a
sense OF religion and morality, instilled' in.
to their youthful minds by John Adams has
hitherto preserved these interesting people
perfectly chaste, and free from all kinds of
deoauchery. Adams assured the visitors
that since Christians death there had not
been single insta ce of any young wo.
man proving unchaste, nor any attempt of
seduction on the part of the men. they
all labor, while young, in the cultivation of
the ground, and when possessed of sufIi.
Gent quantity of cleared land, and of stock
to maintain family, they are allowed to
marry, but always with the consent of AID.
ans, who unites them by marriage cere
mony of his own.
The greatest harmony prevailed in
the little society; their only auarrels. and
these rarely happened, being to use their
own expressions, Nquarrels of the month >,
they are honest in their dealings, which
consist OF bartering different articles of
mutual accommodation. :,
Their habitations are extremely neat
The little village of Pitcairn forms pret-
tyss square, the houses at the upper end of
which are occupied by the patriarch John
Adams and his family, consisting of his
ola blind vile, and three daughters, from
hiteen to eighteen years Of age, and how
OF eleven daughter of his wife by fur.
mer husband, and son in law. On the
opposite side is the dwelling of Thursday
October Christian and i'm the centre. ;s y
smooth verdant lawn, on which the nouI-
try are let loose, fenced i'm so as to nre.
vent the intrusion of the domestic auadru.
lpeds. f''
Adams house consisted of two rooms.
and the windows had shutters to null to
at night. The younger part of the sex. are
as before stated, employed with their bro-
theirs, under the direction of Adams. in tho
culture of the GROUND, which produced ca.
Goa nuts, bananas, the bread fruit tree.
vans sweet potatoes and turnips. They
nave also plenty of hogs and goats. The
woods abound with species Of wild hog.
| fish. VI Soo'
:" Their agricultural implements are
made oy themselves fom the Iron supplied
10y the Bounty, which with great labour ;.
.ney beat out into spades, hatchets, &c.
ms was not all the good old man kent
regular Journal. in which was entered the
nature and guilty of work performed by
each family, what each had received. and
what was due on accOunt-there was il
seems, besides private property, a sort OF
general stock, out of which articles were
issued ON account of the several members
Oh the community ; and for mutual accom-.
modatlon exchange of one kind of nrov;si.
on Tor another were very frequent, as sal,
e. or iresii provisions, vegetables and fruii.
Tor poultry, fish, &c.-also, when the
sores OF one family. are low, or wholly
expended, fresh supply was raised from
another or out of the general stock. to be
repaid when circumstances were more f.,
yorabie; all which were carefully noted
down IN John Adams journal.
Dut what was most gratifying to ALL
the visitors was the simple and unaffecting
manner in which they returned thaaks rel
the Almighty for the many blessings thew
enjoyed. They never failed to saw grace
before and after meals, to pray every NOR.
nlng at sunrise, and they frequently re.
peated the Lords prayer and the creed.
" IL was truly pleasing" says Capt. Piron.
I" to see these poor people so well dispo-
sed to listen so attentively to moral in.
struction, to believe in the attributes ofl
God, and to place their reliance ON Divine
goodness. The day on which the two can |
eains landed was on Saturday, the 18th
September, but by John Adams account. if
was on Sunday, the 18th, and they keen
ing the Sabbath by making it day of rest
and prayer. This was occasioned by the
bounty having proceeded thither by the
eastern route, and our frigates having zone
TO the westward and the Topaz found
them right according to their own reckon
ing, she having also approached G Island
from the eastward. Every shin from f..
rope proceeding to Pitcairn's Island round
the Cape OF Good Hope, will find them
DAY later, as those who approach them
round Cape Horn, day in advance. as
was the case with Capt Folger and the
Captains Sir L. Staines and Piron.
Capt. Plron supplied them with some
tools, kettles, and other ticles, such as
the high surf would permit them to land.
put 20 10 great extent; many things are
still wanting for their ease and comfort
Inc descendants of hese people, by keep
ny up the Othaheitan language. which the
present race speak fluentIy, might be the
means of civiIizing the multitudes of fine
people scattered over the innumerable l..
ands OF the great Pacific. We have ONLY
% add, that Pitcairn's Island seems TO be
80 fortified by nature, as to oppose an in
,Incible barrier to an invading enemy
here is no spot, apparently where boat
IAN land with safety; and perhaps, not
more than one where it can land at ali an
swell of the ocean rolls in ON
very side, and breaks into foam against
is rocky and iron bound shores. |.