The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-06-11
The Pitcairn Islanders i'm Nor
folk Island.

Our readers, says an English paper, will doubt
less remember the interesting story of the descend
ants of the mutineers of the : Bounty" who
dwelt, for so many years, in Il solitary Island Of
the Pacific ~Ocean-Pitcairn Island. 1t NAV also
be known that, some few years ago, these people
were transferred to Norfolk Island, on the break
ing up of our convict establishment there. Our
opportunities of Intelligence from Norfolk Island
are few and far between. One has Just occurred
in the shape of a letter. sent by a correspondent
10 the Burnley AdrertiSer. We recognize in its
details an account of Il visit paid by the mission
ship OF the London Missionary Society, the John
Williams. the writer says
" We set sail from Sydney on Wednesday, the
18th Of September. At the request of the Gov
ernor, Captain Williams agreed to take supplies
for the Norfolk Islanders. We made that inter-
esting Island on Tuesday, the Odd, and next day
| dined ashore, at the Rev. Mr.. Nobbs', their
minister. He received us very kindly, and sent
a few things for the children on board. There
are three islets-Philip Island. burrowed in all
directions by rabbits-there are also a few goats
Nvran Island, which Is just a block of bare lime
stone rock, with four f~ir-trees on 1t and Norfolk
Island itself, which is nineteen and a half miles
in circumference, and is Il lovely spot. The three
islands must have formed but one in time long
gone by. The settlement ut Norfolk Island is
very pretty the landing very difficult. The vast
prison, barracks, and sturehouses are all going to
ruin. as there is no further need of them. The
present population Of Norfolk Island is three
hundred. During the six years residence Of the
families who removed from PitcIirn'S Island,
there have been a hundred births ard only fifteen
deaths, flour of these deaths were accidentally 50
there is great reason to expect that the Island
hereafter viii become pDpulOus. No stranger is
permitted to live there without the consent of
the majority Of the present population, and that
of the Governor of New South Wales. They
are very civil and highly moral, and are Il fine
race of people. The younger women are very
good looking, and are Il shade darker than our
selves.
They are, in fact, a colony of English people
Il Christian people too. We could not help
taking the liveliest interest in them. Mr.. hobbs
told me that two families have returned to Pit
cairns Island, and are doing well. The people
have no desire u return there. One of them,
Frederick Young, with his little boy, came up
with US from Sydney. His little boy had been
successfully operated upon for the removal of a
sweet potatoes. English potatoes, taro loquats,
coffee. Indian corn, &c, but no good wheat or
cocoa-nuts. Mr.. hobbs says, that he has missed
nothing 50 much as Il good drink of cOcOa-nut
water English only is spoken now at Norfolk
Island the Tahitian dialect has become obsolete.
No freight was charged for the supplies which we
brought them. y donation of one hundred dol
lars was made by them to the London Missionary
Society. y sheep, quarter OF an OK. and Il boun-
tiful supply of carrots, citrOns, &c, We're pre-
scented to US for the ships use. l regretted only
thing-it was, that our short stay did ne
permit US to hold a service with the people. |
am sure they would have been pleased, nor do [
think that Mr.. NoDbs would have objected.
Many inquiries were made by the people respect
ing the progress of our missionary work in the
Sea Islands. Captain Williams presented
the Islanders with a copy of your brothers
(Rev. William Gill's) Gems from The Coral
Islands. They seemed very thankful for reading
This interest On missions, attested by the (for
them) liberal contribution Of one hundred dol
lars, i truly gratifying. We come next to an
which reminds Us OF the former uses of
Norfolk Island - Strolliug in a graveyard, |
a tombstone erected over the grave of u man
Who had died, aged one hundred and five years,
| convict at his death! The last time he was
he was eighty-fve years old he had
,een a convict nearly all his days. Another
tone was erected TO the memory of a man who
vas one of sixteen who were all executed in one
-ay for a mutiny which they plotted, and to some
xtcnt carried out"