Chapter I: Introduction

Many books have been written on the history of Pitcairn Island, while magazine articles and newspaper sketches almost without number have appeared from time to time, treating on some feature of the island or its history. While there are some points of disagreement between the different writers, they have in the main given a fairly good history of the island, and of its condition many years ago, though some of their statements have been somewhat exaggerated. That it is inevitable that some errors should creep into such histories may be clearly seen from the fact that very few of the writers have ever visited the island, while those who have done so, remained but a short time, and so could see but one side of life on that isolated spot.

The present work is written by a native of the island, and one who has practically spent her whole life on the island, a few years of her childhood only having been spent on Norfolk Island. While her lifetime does not cover quite one-half of the time covered by the history of the island, she had access for many years to one at least who remembered events that occurred before the beginning of the present century. The author’s father was the second oldest man of the community at the time of his death, in September, 1893, and was a grandson of John Adams, one of the mutineers of the _Bounty_, whose death took place in 1829. She has thus had the best of advantages for obtaining a correct knowledge of the island history.

The writer of this introduction spent over eighteen months on the island, leaving there February 9 of the present year, and, as far as his observation goes, believes that the statements contained in this book are strictly reliable.

The island, though but a dot on the broad Pacific, being but two and one-quarter miles long by one and a half miles wide, is an interesting spot, and its history reads like a romance. Its location is a favorable one, being about two degrees south of the tropic of Capricorn, for which reason the weather is never so intensely hot as in some of the islands of the south seas, and is never cold. Beautiful tropical trees,—the tall, graceful cocoanut palm, the wide-spreading banyan, the pandanus palm, and others,—cover its surface from end to end. Refreshing breezes, cooled and moistened by passing over thousands of miles of ocean, constantly fan the surface of this lovely isle. It can be truthfully said of this island that

“Every prospect pleases.”

The people who inhabit this little Eden are half castes, their dark features and black hair plainly betraying their Tahitian blood, though some of them have quite light complexion and blue eyes. At present there are but about one hundred and thirty of the inhabitants. The kindness and hospitality of this interesting people have been remarked by all who have ever called at the island.

We believe this little book will be read with profit and delight by all who are so fortunate as to secure a copy.

E. H. GATES.

_St. Helena, Cal., July 30, 1894._

CONTENTS.

PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
The Bounty and the Mutineers 13

CHAPTER II.
The Arrival at Pitcairn 21

CHAPTER III.
The Mutineers Discovered 32

CHAPTER IV.
The Gem of the Pacific 44

CHAPTER V.
John Buffett and John Evans 54

CHAPTER VI.
George Hun Nobbs. Death of John Adams 65

CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Joshua Hill 75

CHAPTER VIII.
The Flag of Old England 86

CHAPTER IX.
The Queen’s Birthday 96

CHAPTER X.
Visit of H. M. S. _Portland_ 107

CHAPTER XI.
Removal to Norfolk Island 118

CHAPTER XII.
A Goodly Heritage 126

CHAPTER XIII.
Ho! for Pitcairn 137

CHAPTER XIV.
An Unpleasant Surprise 145

CHAPTER XV.
The Second Party Returns 156

CHAPTER XVI.
The Reception 165

CHAPTER XVII.
At Home Again 172

CHAPTER XVIII.
Wreck of the _Cornwallis_ 188

CHAPTER XIX.
Visit of Rear-Admiral de Horsey 201

CHAPTER XX.
Friendly Visits 215

CHAPTER XXI.
The Wreck of the _Oregon_ 224

CHAPTER XXII.
Arrival of Mr. John I. Tay 229

CHAPTER XXIII.
The Missionary Ship _Pitcairn_ 237