The herald., 1896-01-05
LATEST FROM PITCAIRN

| When the British ship Comlebank
sailed from Portland last winter, bound for
England, Captain Smith carried with him
a large quantity of clothins, books, hard
ware, e c., for the lonely Pitcairn island
ers. These were collected by DR.. X. b.
Knight of this city from the merchants and
others who take an interest in the nhabi-
tants of Pitcairn The Comiebank reach
ed England short time ago, and Captain
Smith has written DR.. Knight an account
of the pass ,ge, enclosing letter from
Mrs. Smith, who accompanied her husband
on the voyage, de escribing the visit to the
island. Mrs. Smith writes:
''ln true jack tar fashion 1 climbed
down the side of the Comliebank and
landed without mishap in the islanders
boat, which leaked like a basket. There
were ten men in the boat and enjoyed
the row of two miles to the island. When
We neared the shore the surf was very
, rough washing on the rocks, and il looked
to me rather dangerous undertaking to
try to take so frail craft as their boat in
! to waters so furious, But nothing hap
pened 10 me worse than little wetting,
which / scarcely noticed at the time and
entirely forgot when one of the natives
picked me up in his arms and carried me
onto the beach, the boat not being close
enough to allow me to step out of it on dry
land.
"The islanders had been watching the
boat returning. and. seeing a lady in it
sent reception committee to bid me well
come. 1t consisted of one barefooted dam
sci, with bunch of flowers. and several
small children ranging in years from to
/ tnI H.
| had been plucked by the wayside as they
hastened to welcome me AS soon as the
! first greetings we're over the girl took my
| arm and assisted me to climb very steep
bill up to the settlement.
:" he air was heavy with the perfume of
| beautiful flowers and orange blossoms.
! Cultivated flo veTs are in gre 1t proftsion
all over the island, and oranges, lemo s,
lines, cocoanut, guava, and bread'fruit
| trees grow in one great mass, no attempt
being made to keep them separate. The
island is divided into avenues, which are
beautifully clean, no leaves or twigs to be
| seen on them, which is quite noticeable to
stranger, seeing there is so much foliage.
| The head man, Mr.. Nc oy, who keeps the
| lines of government in his own hands, and
the islanders look W TO him as their ad.
wiser and director, has the avenues swept
every Friday. the work being done by the
children.
"There are only 13O souls on the island
at present, two-thirds of these being
children. The islanders rise in the MORN
/ ing at 6 o'clock, when the 1abors of the
! day commence with the ringing of the
church bell, and all hands assemble to ask
/ the Supreme Ruler for a blessing on the
labors of the day. They partake of their
! frugal meals and then labor until noon in
building houses or whatever may be to d.
for the gooi of the island. Then from
labor to refreshme 1t for one hour. when
all hands go to school-men. women and
chi dren-until a p. m. Then wo hours
are devoted TO cutivtting their portion of
land. They grow Irish potatoes, sweet
ones, pumpkins, beats, beans, arrowroot,
onions, lettuce, etc / also saw pineappIes.
II saw the graves of John Adams and
his wife. John has headstone, his wife
none. She Departed from all labors of an
earthly nature some years ere John was
called to go aloft, and, according to the
dates on the sto0e, he has now been dead
I seventy-five years. A new school house
was in course of erection at the time of my
visit, an1 they were at a stand5iil for
nails, so our arrival with the keg OF as
ored sizes was providential. dined at
the M0Cuys' house on chicken soup and
stewed chicken, nicely cooked, with rice
and tomatoes. bread fruit, sweet potatoes,
lemonade and oranges | forgot to say
they cul ivate sugar cane, aud saw an
old woman boiling large caldron of
/ syrup and at dinner had some of il.
! My three hours on the island came to
an end all too soon. would have fingered
! longer, and l left it with regret. The
whole population escorted me 10 the boat.
/ Many of them kissed me farewell and told
me to soon return. and if would only stay
they would keep me for a year or unit
such time as tue ship returned. Time
being up for me to return, was again car
ried into he boat and was safely landed
on board of my floating home. And so
ended a treat never to be forgotten so long
as memory lasts. II is a paradise on earth
without a doubt, and [ envy them their
perfect lives of harmony and the peaceful
quiet that ever surrounds their isolated
dwelling. g.'-Oregonian.
She Wnisted for 1t