Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-05-27

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pearancc Of a sail, and reading bi
bic and prayer-bOOk.
For two or three years everything
went on prOspcrOusly. Then tht
wife of Williams was killed by fall
ing over the rocks. lie undertook
to take the wife of one of the Tahi
tans, whose comrades formed a plot
to murder all the Englishmen. The
plot was discovered and revealed by
the wives Ofthe whites. Two of the
Tahitms fed to the mountains
where they were killed by tho others
to whom pardon had been offered il
they would do so. Meanwhile, two
of the men, Quintal and M'Koy, had
succeeded in distilling alcohol from
root, were constantly drunk, and
abusive toward the natives who again
determined to murder all the whites,
Fivc-Christian, Mills, Williams,
Martin, and BrOWn--were killed on
the spot; Smith fed sOrcly wounded
down the rocks, but the Tahitans
pre- mi.cd to spare his life ifhc would
return; Young Waa hidden by the
women, with whom he was Il iavo-
rite; Quintal and MKoy fed 10 the
mountains, where they remained UNI
Ill summoned back, peace having APP
parcntly been restored. But the
whites felt that that their only safety
lay in the death of the natives; they
fell upon them by surprise and kill
ed them all. Soon, however, M'kOy
while drunk fell over the rocks, and
Quintal became so outrageous Adam
and Young killed him in sclf-de-
fence.
These two were row the sole sur
vivors of the fifteen men who had,
seven years before, landed upon the
island. How and when occurred the
great change which took place in
these two men is not told. All that is
told is that they sought out the bible
and prayer-bOok of Christian, and
entered Il most religious life. Young
died Of asthma in 1900, not, however,
until he had instructed Adams, who
could barely read, and not write
and he, the sole man on the island,
became the guardian and instructor
of a community of more than a score
Of women and children. As the
children grew up, they were married
by Adams, according to the form
laid down in the prayer book, the
ring, used for all, having been made
by him. The son of Christian took
| for wife the widow of Edward
1 Young, II woman quite old enough
ITO be his mother, and 50 became step
father to the tall young man, almost
Of his own age, who accompanied
him ona visit to the British ship.
THE ISLAND AND VILLAGE.
If the islanders were astonished al
their visitors, the latter were 10 les,
astOnishcd at the aspect of this little
community. The island, apparently
about dozen miles in circuit, rose
to the height of q thousand feet, the
steep cliffs down to the waters edge
being clothed with palm, banyan
cocoa-Hut and bread fruit trees
while in the valleys were plantations
oftaro root, yams and sweetpotatocs
Ihc village, which consisted of five
houses, that being the number o.
families. was situated on.a level plat
form high above the ocean, shaded
with brOad-leavcd bananas and plan
tain. The houses were OF wood, twC
stories in height, each having it, pig
pen, poultry-house, bakery, and all
other for the manufacture OF tappa
the substitute for cloth, Il kind of pa
per made by pounding together lay
crs of the inner bark of trees.
CHARACTER AND HABITS OF THE rEU
PIE,
The population now numbered III
The young men, all born on the is
land, were finely formed, tall, the av
eragc height being five feet ten in
chcS, some of them exceeding 81.
feet. The young women were alst
tall, one, moi the lallcst, was five fee
ten inches. All had white teeth, AM
prOfusc black hair, neatly dressct
and Ornamcntcd with wrcaths o
flowers. Their features were Ofa de
cidcdly European cast, the complex
ion being clear brunette. Thei
dress consisted Of loose bodic
reaching from waist to knees, with
sort of mantle thrown over tn
shoulder, and reaching to the ankle.
which was thrown aside when a
work. Their feet were bare.
, photograph, taken many years after
of Maria Christian. Ellen Quinta
and Sarah Mckoy, daughters 0
these young women, gives pcrleC
representation of those who wcr
: seen by the English captains. TIL
young people were them mostly un
married, for Adam discouraged yer
carly marriages, as the girls woul
then necessarily be occupied wit
the care of their children; and h
also inculcatcd upon the young me
: the necessity Of having made som
provision fora family before enter
ing into any matrimonial engage
, mcnt. The older women were main
ly occupied in making tappa; til
, Younger worked in the fields wit
their fathers aud brothers. Thci
strength and agility astonished thci
visitors. "Ouc of them" says Cap
Pipon, accompanied us to the boa
carrying on her shoulders, as pres
cnt, Il large basket of vans, over sue
p, roads and precipiccs rs were scarccl
4, passable by any creatures eXceT
goats, and over which we coul
scarcely scramble with the help {
hands. Yet with this load on he
shoulders she skipped from rock t
rock like a Young roe." Both sCXC
, were excellent swimmers.
More even than by their attractiv
persons were the visitors charme
by the gentle manners and SINGER
I piety of the islanders. "What mo,
delighted us whites Capt. PipOl
twas the conviction which JOh
: Adam, had impressed OH the mind
of these young people of the propr
city and necessity Ofreturning thank
to the Almighty for the many bic;
sings which they enjoy. They ncvC
omit saying grace before and attC
meals, and never think Of touchin
food without asking II blessing lro'
! him who gave it. They repeat I'll
; Lords Prayer and the Creed morl
! ing and evening.
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