Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-07
Verdict Within the World .

PITCAIRN : ISLAND AND IT : PEOPLE.
We wonder that Admiral de Horsey S
report on the condition of Pitcairn Island
has not attracted more public attention.
Ii is an island of about seven miles in cir
cumlercnce, and about I square mile and
quarter in extent. II is only two miles
and 4 quarter long. and not half that in
average breadth. SO that L minuter spot,
which is habitable at all, scarcely exists
on the globe, and none certainly which is
SO far removed from its nearest inhabited
neighbors. Ii was first occupied by nine
mutineers OF the Bounty, who, in 1890,
fled from Otaheite, in the not groundless
fear of being there appreheuded and pun
ished by the British government for their
mutiny, taking with them six Otaheitan
men and twelve Otaheitan women.
But before lSoO eight out OF the nine,
all the Otaheitan men, and several of the
women had been killed out by violence or
disease, and the island waspopulated only
by the children of the original settlers,
with few of the Otaheitan women, and
single English sailor, originally called
Alexander Smith, who had taken the name
of John Adams, and who ruled over the
little settlement. Solitude had produced
4 very deep effect on his character, and he
had established simple code OF laws for
the rising generation, which had been so
well obeyed that the reports of the settle
ment, As early As 1914, were like reports
of the HappyValley. In 1881 their num-
bers had increased to eighty-seven-a
population nearly as large as the island
can support-and hence they were trans
ported, at their own request, from Pitcairn
Island to Otaheite.
But disgusted by the dissolute habits of
the people Of that island. most OF them re-
turned to Pitcairn Island within the year.
In loj6 they again found themselves too
numerous Tor their dwelling-place. and at
their own request were taken to Norfolk
Island. But in 1888. two families, num-
bering seventeen in all, returned to their
old home, and in 1864 another instalment
returned also. On Admiral de Horsey's
visit in the Shah, in September last he
found sixteen men, nineteen women,
twenty-five boys. and thirty girls-say. a
number equivalent TO some sixteen fami-
lies in all. Only twelve deaths had occur
red in nineteen years; no contagious dis
eases had visited the island, either as re-
garded men or cattle.
The Governor elected by universal suf-
frage of both sexes over seventeen, and
open TO relection) is James Russell
NJ Kov, the steersman of the whale-boat,
the only boat they have, and built by him
self. This chief magistrate himself drew
up the existing code of laws, using for
that purporse John Adams's code, and
the amendments on it, with such changes
as seemed good 10 him. But Admiral de
HOrsey states that they are laws of "pu-
Grille simplicity contemplating as posi-
Bile only three crimes, theft, swearing,
and Illicit Intercourse between the sexes.
offences OF which no case has ever been
known to occur since the laws were drawn
up.
Ofthcirrcligious attributes. he says :"No
one can speak without deeprespect. peo-
pie cwhose greatest privilege and pleasures is
to commune in prayer with :hcr God,
and 10 Join in hymns Of praise, and who
are, moreover, cheerful diligent and prob
ably irccr from vice than any other com
munltY, need no priest among them
Nevertheless they have pastor, Mr..
Simon Consequently one of them
selves, and of course rot in orders-who
always uses the liturgy Of the Church of
England, and Is helped very efficiently by
hisdaughter, Miss Rosalind Amelia Young.
These two teach the children reading,
writing, arithmetic, geography, and Scrip
ture history. The girls learn sewing and
hat-making and all the children are taught
part-singing, and practice it very effrc-
iivelv
Schooling is conducted in the church.
house, at one end OF which is free IL
brary. The island has no springs, but rain
usually tails once a month. 50 that il is
only occasionally that the people suffer
from drought. Once month also, or
thereabout, they have a chance of commu-
nicating with a passing ship. The only
language spoken is English Drunkness IS
unknown, and alcohol is used only in
cases OF disease Twice recently they
have assisted the crews Of wrecked Eng
lish vessels most literally, one islanders
life having been lost in the dangerous ex-
plot and 50 far from taking advantage
OF these wrecks for their own purposes.
they seem to have received no equivalent
or compensation in either case for the aid
rendered.
The island will not apparently sustain a
population of more than a hundred; so
that as the numbers grow those who pre-
fer more exciting world will inevitably
leave and only the greatest lovers OF NOR
al tranquility Will remain behind Thus
process of moral selection may by de-
grees furnish US with population Of un-
usually refined moral simplicity
the preponderance of unruly prOpensities
IS almost unknown; where the love of
excitement has wel-nigh vanished; where
there is no love Of money, because money
has no uses (Admiral de Horsey says that
there Is no coin on the island, except by
way oi curiosity and where there is moth
ing fOrbiddIng or austure, even in the re-
ligious character Of the people; where.
too, the affections never swell into mas.
sions, and sentiment is too much restric-
ted in lis sphere 10 admit of its rising into
sentim entality and falsehood. London
Spectat0r