Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-09-30
Recent visit to Pitcairn. Island.


Recent visit to Pitcairn's Island.
/. Her Majes,y's brig Spy arrived off this ISL
and on the 26lh of February, and was boarded
by George Adams and some more natives short
ly after she hove to. George Adams is the son
of the celebrated John Adams, the father of the
colony, the mutineer of the Bounty. Went
ashore in cutter, piloled by George Adams
Landing place very small sandy beach. with
many rocks, and in The least breeze imprac'l-
cable. We were met on the beach by some of
The natives, who cordially welcomed US TO Pit
cairns Island, and showed us The way TO The
marke, place, up a steep and rugged path. wind
ing along the cliff, and through beautiful va
reiy of all kinds Of tropical flowers and shrubs
The scene, when we arrived al The summit, was
pic,uresoue in the extreme. The whole of the
natives, men, women, and children. headed by
Mr.. Nopps, the schoomaster, had assembled IN
a space of abou, half an acre square, caipeied
with thick soft grass. and canopied overhead
by the spreading branches OF the cocoa-nut trees
to NEE, the strangers, all of them being dressed
in their gayesl. Their welcome was warm all
of them advancing and shaking US by the hand.
and addressing us in perfectly good English
We were extremely pleased by their quiet and
decorus behavior As soon as we had made
acquaintance with them all, we were led lhro'
gently winding paths 10 the principal village
ybere the courthouse and church stands, as
there were one or TWO slight dlsagreemenls
about land, which they wished to be brought
before Lieutenant Woodbridge, commander OF
the Spy and who very speedily disposed OF
Them without having evinced, either during the
Investigation or afterwards, the least Ieellng oil
dsconien, or displeasure The church is
me- a, building, we'll arranged, with pulpit and
benches. and is used as we'll for coust-house
as church. Mr.. Nopps, the schoolmas'er,
performs The various Offices. We were shown
The old gun belonging TO the Bounty, that had
been under water for fify-nine years, and which
was now living near the cour, house. We Wis.
tied old Adams's house and grave, the last of
" hich is situated in beautiful spot next 10 his
wile's grave. aud kept in trim order.
AfeI rambling about and visiting one or two
inhabitants W no were no, well, Zone of whom
had wounded himself with his gun. while out
shooting goats a short time before we arrived,
bu. was doing wel,) we returned to dinner,
which had been prepared for US at-McCcy's
house, and consisted of pork, yam, and sweet
potatoes Each family on the island take 1t In
turn 10 entertain strangers when they arrive,
and never accept any reward. Their food Is
principally vegetables, of which they have al
mos, every kind, and twice week either meat
or fish; bu, there is difficulty in getting The lat
Ter, as the fishing ground is bad and water ve-
ry deep The animals on the island are goats,
(which are wild) pigs sand fowls. Their hou,
ses are the perfection Of cleanliness and good
order, and each person has his plot of ground
TO cultivate Their form of government IS SIM
ole: they elect magistrate every 10 months,
upon which occasion every man and woman
above eighteen is entitled 10 vote. and If mar
ried before tha, age they are allowed vote in
consequence The magistrate then chooses
an assistant, and the remainder OF The people
choose again another, who acts as sort ol
chec k which is, indeed ,lIle wanted, for there is
no place in the world where such perfect unan-
iml,y and good feeling exist as IN this happy
island. The number of inhabitants is one hun.
dfed and thirty -four, but the island can support
many more, and they increase but slowly. The
island itself is only four miles and hall in clr
conference. We heard with pleasure that
though several whalers touched there, yet in nc
instance had any improperly been committed
}. Forty-six whalers, mostly American, had called
during The year 1916. They all appeared se
talk of Adams with the greatest respect, and
seemed TO have strong feeling OF the crime
tha, their ancestors committed in mu'inyIng.--
+ They talked in the mos. sffec,iona,e and loya
/ way of "our Queen" and appeared exceeding
Iy proud of being English. but complained lha
they were SO neglected, the Spy having beer
the first man. of.war which had visited them lo
more than three years. they. however, were
Quite satisfied when told that the exigencles o
The service had lately prevented their being
visited so often. They begged earnestly for
visi, by man.of-war as often as she could bt
spared from other duties; but, as George Ad
ans remarked, they "could not complain. as lh'
Government, had already been kinder to Ihen
Than they deserved"
\ Before OUT leaving, the women came sef u
X i,ll lille presents and keeP'akea. such as lock