The Pitcairners

ANOTHER book on Pitcairn Island has been published—“ Heritage of the Bounty ," by Dr. H. L. Shapiro (associate curator of the American Museum of Natural History). It is a partly scientific, partly gossipy, study of this curious community.

Dr. Shapiro says (according to one re viewer) that in 1815 H.M.S. Tagus visited Pitcairn, and found the islanders “a happy and well regulated” little commun ity ruled by the patriarchal Adams, who, repenting of his earlier misdeeds, had become deeply religious. Even to-day their religion—they are all Seventh Day Adventists—is the main preoccupation of the islanders. They are practically vege tarians —even pork is forbidden them— and all forms of alcohol are prohibited.

The more devout among them disap prove of both coffee and tea, confining themselves to water or a drink made from bran husks.

In the fifties of last century, when the island was often visited by whaling ves sels, its women were celebrated for their rigid virtue. Since then, however, a no ticeable change has affected the morality of the community. Dr. Shapiro found that during the last 50 years practically 25 per cent, of births are illegitimate.

In spite of the islanders’ close com munal life all land and property is pri vately owned, with the exception of the public buildings, the roads, the spring and the island boats.

The Pitcairners show no signs of any native culture. Their homes are primi tive and unadorned, save for an occasional picture from an illustrated magazine or an illuminated text. Although they can speak English, among themselves they use a curious dialect incomprehensible to English or Polynesian ears. Physically the islanders are a fairly healthy group, subject only to the usual illnesses com mon to man. Except for their teeth— half of them have none at all, which gives them a curious expression—they show no signs of the alleged disastrous effects of close intermarriage. In appearance they are more English than Polynesian.

Mr. W. M. Yarrington, of the Vila branch of Messrs. Burns Philp (S.S.) Co.

Ltd. in the New Hebrides, sailed from Sydney for New Guinea by the Montoro on September 9 to take up duties with Burns, Philp and Co.’s office at Rabaul.

Mr. E. Wilson, formerly of Port Patte son, Vanua Lava, in the Banks Group, who for many years was esteemed by both the British and French communities in the New Hebrides, died at Hurstville, N.S.W., on July 9. After being plantation manager for several years at Yandina estate in the Solomon Islands, he went to the Condominium in 1923 as manager for the O.R.P.T. Co. Until a year ago he was a director of the Societe des lies Banks.

Early this year Mr. Wilson returned to the New Hebrides from Australia, but becoming seriously ill he was compelled to come back to Sydney in April.