New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-07

ofquesioning the wisdom of those whom
they recognized their superiors presuming that they
knew the nature Of their necessities better than
they did themselves. 1t was, besides more AatteriDg
to them to accuse the poverty of their soil than TO lay
the blame of bad crops upon inferior cultivation.
The email group of which Norfolk Island is the prin
eipal, lies in the South Pacific about 900 miles east
northeast from Sydney. When the penal establish
ment on Norfolk Island was removed to Port Arthur
in Yasmania, and the place abandoned, those who in
terested Themselves in the welfare of the Pitcairn
islanders, procured grant of it upon certain cond-
tons from the British Government and in May, 1885,
the whole inhabitants of Pitcairn embarked ship
sent from BY dDey, to them to Norfolk Island.
The writer's acquaintance with this singular little
community commenced at Norfolk Island in November
1855 while cruising among the islands of the Pacific
They thin numbered 29 souls, and the great bulk of
them were of the same unhappy disposition which we
| read in Holy Writ brought 90 hard fate upon Lots
wife, They express the most lively anxiety to return
10 Pitcairn and cay that they wished TO leave it,
but caoled by others into passive assent 10
bark for place which was said to abound with every
necessary that can want. They declare that in
place Of the promised plenty, they can, with five times
the amount of exertion required from them at Pitcairn
barely obtain subsistence. They complain that their chief
CODthB VI bWect posatocb enaii Va
animal food afforded by the carcass of bullock per
week, which is all they permitted to slaughter by
Sir William Denison, Governor General Of New South
Wales who has taken very prominent part in trying
to ests bsh them on Norfolk that the climate and way
Of living do not suit their constitutions and fever and
asthma prevail to a great extent among them, and
finally that Sir w. Denison has intermeddled with
their laws and introduced new which are exceed
iDgy unpopular.
Landing is only practicable ON the northern and
southern sides Of Norfolk on the former Of which went
ashore and walked across the slandby very tolesble
road about three miles TO the Settlement" This island
has BEEN by most of those who have written about it,
greatly overpraised, and, by consequence upon frat
yisit ones expectations Of an earthly paradise
far from being realized 1t is true that the scenery is
very pretty and diversified and that the pines which
have taken their from the island very beant
full more especially 80 when viewed from the But
the coil though apparently rch is far from being really
fertile and vas informed by of the most inte
gent Of the islanders that it will only produce In
dian corn and sweet potatoes in sucisnt plenty to
ward the labor Of cultivation Norfolk Island con
aips about 1900 acre., Of which 800 have been
cleared but only half Of this is arabic. The settlement
IL built at the landing place, the southern sde and
prison capable Of containing two thousand men,
together with barracks for their military guard, com
pifssrist sores hospital, houses for the governor,
ebaplairs officers turkeys and overseersi the whole
forming deserted and desolate scene that in connec
ton with the many mounds and tombstones in the CEN
etsry in the immediate neghbsrhood, tells a melan
eholy tale Of the former inhabitants and the terrible
misery Of the thousands that must have labored out
their existence here without hope.
When the British Government gave over the place
there were some two thousand sheep several hundred
head of black cattle, about twenty brood mares and
horses. and iunumersbe quantities Of pigs and poultry
To this spendid ss was add six months provisions,
agricultural implements and seeds Of various plants
and vegetable Besides all this there were two boats
Of fifteen tons each quantities Of slop clothing and
tools for various handcrafts. The Pitcairn people &C.
oupi.d the houfes originally intended for the officers Of
the establishment and had not made any ATTEMPT t.
locate emseves spots suited for cultivation through
ont the island.
That the community descended from the Bountys
crew are very honest kindhearted race, Ia an abso-
lutte certainty, and il s slso certain that they make
suiieient show Of pety 10 entte them to prominent
position among the most righteous and psalm singing
people Ii is quite absurd however to suppose the pos
sbility Of human nature being perfect, under any
circumstances as the Pitcairn islanders represented
10 be by most of those who have written about them
The romance Of their early history and the great sim
pcity Of the people, have suggested to visitors picture
which their own magnations have reproduced as true
With all their simplicity Of manner, 1t is quite impos
sble upon short acquaintance, TO extract from them
any information regarding the private history OF the
little silines wherein the members of their community
resemble mankind US known 10 us elsewhere. II we
make due deduction for the absence Of all the pomps
and vsniiss Of this world and the consequent tempta
tons TO evil for which they indebted to their $50
lac fe we shall find that the islanders have not more
morality than we should be led TO expect from any
people urder similar circumstances who had enjoyed
the zane amount Of instruction. i am satisfied thai
,hose little likes and dshkes those rims OF our nature
from which their secluded position does not shield
them, and to which they equally exposed with the
world at large, as prevalent comparatively among
them as among the rural population of this country or
Great Britain.
The islanders generally retire to rest very early, and
rice with the When not busily employed, they
hold meetings among themselves at winch the
women take no uncomfortable share OF the CONVEX
saiion. The women assst in the cultivation OF the
ground, and in fact employed than the men.
Fish are abundant and Of the more enterprsing
of the men have taken to shore whaling and been toll
erably successful. At certain seasons small whales
are very numerous around the island and have seen
them close in shore almost In the breakers. These
they kill in the usual manner and haul up 10 finch and
try out the oil. This trade was commenced by them
with the view of obtaining the means to pay their pas
sses back to their favorite home, for they have all
along 8attered themselves with the idea Of eventually
returning to Pitcairn. When they about to embark
from it, in 1856 they took such steps sappearedto them