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

All alone, and far away from other lands, in the
mds Of the South Pacific, lies little island about tv
miles long and one broad. Its entire circuit with one
or two exceptions, lie perpendicular, and will not allow
Of any landing. It's center terminates in lofty cliffs,
about COO feet in hight clothed 10 their SUBMITS with
the most luxurant verdure, while their bases are
slirted with tbickly branching evergreens, which af
ford welcome retreat from the burning rays Of trop
iea 81 n ..rr
Pitcairn Island derives no ordinary degree Of inter-
es from The nutny Of the Bounty, weasel semi by the
Briish Govern ment, in 1888, to bring plants Of The
breadfruit tree from Otaheiie 20 the Yves. India
Islsnds. The Bounty arrived at Otahete at wrong
season for transplantng, and was forced to remain
there some Elk months, during which time the crew
termed connections with the natives the breaking up OF
which caused many heart-aches on both aides. few
days after sailing, in April, 1889, the crew mutined,
ard after they had sent Captain Bligh and those who
would not join them, adrf in an open boat they bore
away in the Bounty for 0tshee. They reached Ton
bouai but getting into difficulty with the natives they
were compelled to leave, and proceeded 10 Otaheite
Here Christian and nine Others after the rest had land.
ed, induced ten native women and ten men 70 come
aboard when they cut the cable and put 70 sea, and
we're not heard Of for many years.
In 1903 Captain Folger, Of Nantucket, while on
sealing voyage in the Pacific, called at Pitcairn Island
and supposing ii to be uninhahited, was much sur
prised 70 zee canoe with two of light brownish
CON pexon approach bis vessel but was still more 30
when they hailed him in good English 70 throw them
rope, and then asked hi, permission to come aboard
Their story was soon told they were the descendants
of the remnant of the onglost and Representations
Bountys crew.
Determined 10 cut off all trace Of themselves, when
the nuneeIs reached Pitcairn Island they searched
for the only practicable landing place and there ran the
Bounty lahore, where after stripping her OF al that
might he useful to them, they burned her.
Christian and his associates took the Oaheitean wo-
men as wives and reduced the men TO bondage. They
appear to have got on well for tme and to have cu
tiyated with success gardens Of considerable extent
But length the sayes rising they were forced TO de-
sroy the whole of the n not however, before three oil
the matters had been killed in the ARRAY among whom
" as Christian. One Of the mutineers committed sui
eide, and another becoming deranged and exceedingly
violent, was knocked on the head with an AK as
measure Of self defense by bis companions. The rest
all died natural deaths and at the time Of Captain Fol-
gers visit Adams was the only survivor Of the mutt
neers He had been boatswain Of the Bounty, and, IL
we except bis one error appears 70 have been man OF
singular good sense and piety. From wel-thumbed
Bible he incucaed sound religious ideas among the
rs ng generation. To this day he is regarded by them
90 TIE father of the little community. He drew up
very simple code Of laws TO which these people are
much attached and by which they still governed
On Christmas day chief magistrate and councillor
are elected for the coming year all over six
teen years Of age both male and female are voters;
the chief magistrate then chooses his secretary The
duty Of the magistrate is to convene meetings and hear
cases, which are then left 10 jury of five persons
Punishments are generally by fines or hard labor. -
Notwithstanding the advantages Of a soil and ell
mate in which every tropical fruit and vegetable To-
eether with many Of those natural TO colder regions
grows with great luxuIance the inhabitants OF Pitcairn
Island have occasionally been subject to scarcity Oh
provisions. 1t has been asserted by some, and gene
rally believed, that population OF two hundred
more than tho island can support am mcnnea "
think, however that by the exercise Of little iore
sight and energy the part Of the people, these sea-
sons Of want might have been greatly mitigafed
severity if not altogether avoided Be this az may
the friends Of the descendants Of the mutneers oo.n
IN the Pacific and In England thought that tae only
cure relief for the people lay In removing them 70 some
locality where greater extent Of ground would insure
them against the risk of famine In future From TINS
pleoneeiyed beneyolence Of their friends they nave
become dependant people, and instead ofreiyns upon
their own exertions TO supply their wants. tney 100.
for support from BishoYs, and Governors a0e A'mr