Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-03-05
Removal Of the Inhabitants Of Pit:airn'I
Island

We learn by late English papers that the de-
scendants of the mutineers Of the English ship
Bounty, whose romantic history has excited
a worldwide interest, have been removed from
Pitcairn's Island in consequence Of the colony
having outgrown the means of sustenance which
the Island afforded. They were removed to
Norfolk Island, together with all their goods
and chattels.
There are only eight Of the first generation Of
settlers left-two men and six women. The
Oldest man is about sixty one or sixty-two, and
the Oldest woman between seventy and eighty.
Charles Christian is the grandson of the ring
leader of the mutineers The number Of per-
sons removed was one hundred and ninety-nine
-Rinety-seven males and one hundred and two
females, one child having been born on the
voyage, and named Dennison, after the Cover
nor General of New South Wales. Pitcairn's
Island is situated in latitude 25S A. S., longi-
tude l3O- 25f W, and is only about four and a
half miles in circumference, one mile and a
half being its greatest length, not more than
one square mile being available for cultivation;
yet it has been the home of a happy and tbri-
wing settlement OF nearly two hundred souls.
Own to the frugal and temperate habits of
the people and the health of the climate, the
population has outgrown its circumscribed
limits.
Their new h~ome-Norfolk Islands situated
in lat. 29 deg. S, and long. los deg, 10 min. E,
being distant from Sidney about twelve hundred
miles. 1t is six miles in length and four in
breadth, and contains about fourteen thousand
acres. 1t is well watsred, and there is a high
hill in the centre called Mount Pitt. For many
years it was the penal settlement for the vilsst
and most in%corrigible transported criminals
sent from England to Van Diemsn's Land.
But since the abolition of transportation to
Tasmania, the c%onvicts have been Withdrawn
from the Island. The locality to which these
settlers have thus voluntarily transferred hem
selves, is infinitely preferable to their former
circumscribed home, both in dimensions, scene
~ and capabilities 1t has been described as a
little earthly paradise, and is capable Of pro-
ducing everything that can promote the well
being Of a community. There are two or three
thousand acres of fine land now in cultivation,
and "a much more might be rendered fruitful.
Inc Island is very healthy, and no epidemics
are known there. The soil produces both tro-
pical and European fruits, vegetables and
grain, besid sspices, the sugar cane, cinnamon,
coffee, the pepper-yine, tobacco, &c.
There were left at Norfolk Island, for the
use Of its new occupants, two thousand sheep,
four hundred and fifty head Of cattle. and
twenty horses, and provisions for twelve months,
with everything requisite for the cultivation OF
the soil. The buildings on the island are of
the most substantial character, and more than
sufficient for the ase OF the Pitcairn settlers,
who, in their former home, dwelt in rude palm
matched houses. The fine scenery, superior
accommodations, enlarged territory and in
creased field operations for their industry, to-
gether with the ample provision made for their
sustenance, must render their new homes a very
attractive spot for these people of simple habits.
The history of this interesting colony, al
though known to a large portion Of the reading
community, may not be familiar to all. The
ship Bounty, commanded by Captain Blieh,
was dispatched by the British Government to
Tahiti, to convey young bread-fruit trees to the
West Indies. While on the voyage the crew
mutinied, murdered the captain, set adrift a
part of their number, and took the vessel to
Pitcairn's leland, where they arrived in 1889,
with nine Tahitian men and thirteen women.
There were ten of The mutiReers, and their fate
was Tor a long time unknown From them
sprang the present thriving colony.