The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-15

women. During. the next ten years
there were fierce conflicts between the
whites and Tahitians, and at the end of
that time the colony consisted of one
white man, eight women and several
children. From these the present pop
ulation of the island is descended.
When the sole survivor of the mutineers
found himself at the head of a colony
on an island of which he was undis-
puted master. he became conservative
and determined to reform. Power is
apt to beget conservatism, as many are
predicting it will do in the case of tho
Democratic party. Surfeited with
tragic adventures and sobered by re-
spoons Utility, the head of the colony set
about educating his companions in
Christian principles. In the course of
years he so far succeeded that. while
his people did not become shining
lights of civilization or suited TO
pass as ornaments of society, they
did become comparatively decent.
moral. well-behaved and happy. The
existence of the colony was not known
to the world till 1903. when it was dis
covered by an American vessel. Since
then it has been visited at long intervals
by British and American ships. The
captain of the A. j. Fuller, who was
there in August last, says the colony
now numbers 139 persons, all happy and
contented. What the outer world is
doing they neither know nor care. The
little one they live in is quite sufficient
for their wants and ambitions. The
island has lovely climate and fertile
soil, which produces yams. cocoanuts,
bread-fruit, sweet potatoes, bananas,
etc., in abundance. The visits of ships
are very rare, and lately even death has
ceased his calls. The captain of the
Fuller says:
The islanders sighted me long before got
within hailing distance. An American
vessel is always accorded q most royal
welcomes Before dropped anchor boat
came out to Inc. 1t was filled with colo
nists: They all wore gorgeous costumes
sells. The boat was commanded by the
chief ma glstrate of the island-a stalwart,
manly fellow. His assistant also accom-
panied him. The islanders were glad
since they had received any tidings
of the outside world. The last ship
| previous to mine TO touch there was an
English ship, which gave them some papers
and other little things which they wanted.
| i invited the chief magistrate to come
aboard. and we had very pleasant chat.
Peace and happiness reign supreme on the
| island. all are well and cOntented. Sick
ness among them is almost unknown.
The chief magistrate informed me that no
death has occurred on the island In over
six years.
The inhabitants of the island who
trace their origin to a mixture of
mutineers and savages less than hun
dred years ago, now bear a high charac-
ter for virtue. cOntentedness and up
rightness. They choose their own
pastor and magistrate. The climate is
SO mild, the soil SO fertile and their
wants SO few that they do not have to
work unless they want to. The demands
of society are not exacting. There are
no daily newspapers to be printed or
read. As there is no necessity of raising
revenue there is no taxation. There are
no courthouse rings, no gerrymander,
no Tammany, no labor strikes. no de-
mand for State banks or free silver
coinage. no elections, no politics. On
the whole. it strikes us as IN ideal
| place-certainly much better than the
headwaters of Salt river.