Pitcairners' Holiday

Cruise

By Ada M. Christian

FOR weeks, the Pitcairn Islanders had been waiting for good weather and favourable wind, with which to go on our annual holidays to Oeno Island, about 75 miles to the north-west.

Our expectation was realised on March 25. The day (Thursday) dawned beau tiful and bright, with an easterly breeze gently blowing.

An early signal bell gave notice to all that the boats would sail for Oeno in the afternoon. All needful preparations were speedily made. Women baked arrowroot or corn biscuits and rolls, which, when packed in tins will last the whole voyage through, besides cooking food to be eaten on the way. The men brought provisions from the gardens— bananas, pumpkins and sweet potatoes— enough to last, with care, for a fort night.

With the aid of wheel-barrows, our only means of conveyance, the loads were easily carted to the Landing Place at Bounty Bay.

By 3 o’clock, all was ready. The boats were launched and loaded to the full.

Besides provisions, each person had his or her personal luggage and other things necessary for the voyage.

Before leaving the beach, our church elder, Roy Clark, offered prayer, asking that God’s protection might be placed over the boats and their occupants.

Good-byes were said, and the boats pulled out of the harbour, one after the other.

The three boats (which were introduced to the “PIM” in a previous article) were not enough to accommodate the 67 pas sengers—men, women and children —and crews; so Andrew Young’s boat, the “Nu-ni.” had to come along.

Five o’clock found us well under way, enjoying the fast falling twilight as we glided smoothly over the sea. Oars laid over the thwarts, covered by heavy tar paulin. with baggage for pillows and blankets to cover, made comfortable rest ing places for the time being.

Responsive flashlights from the land showed that the people at home were as eager to locate our position as we were to see how far we had sailed away in

the darkness. By midnight all lights and land were lost to sight and all who had not done so before, except the helms men. settled down to sleep as best they could and await the morning.

AGAIN, the day dawned as beautiful as the preceding morning, with the same gentle breeze sending us plea santly along. Seabirds flying around were evidence that land was not far away.

By 11 o’clock, coconut trees were seen, as though standing up out of the water, the first sight to be seen of Oeno, show ing that we were eight miles away. After the coconuts, other trees began to show up all at once, all seeming to be of the same height. The land is flat through out, rising only a few feet above sea-level.

The white sandy beach around glistened brightly in the sunshine. Hun dreds of birds, black and white, were flying over the island, while others were flying seaward to hunt for their daily food ('fish), and some were returning with their find. The whole scene Is one to captivate the eye. What a change it is from the rocky cliffs of our own shore line on Pitcairn!

There was hardly a surf breaking on the reef near the passage-way, so there was no difficulty in going through. It was about 3 o’clock when the last boat landed.

Each person except the youngest child ren set to work, getting the encampment ready before the Sabbath came on at sunset. Some of the men were engaged in putting up tents, one for each boat’s crew. By using the boat masts for ridge poles, and the oars for supporters, the work was easily accomplished. Coconut fronds were strewn on the sandy soil, over which coats or blankets were spread to keep off the cold. Others chopped wood, while the women prepared food.

Several of the children accompanied four men. to the hollow inland from which, when sand is scooped out, fresh water is obtained.

All who were not thus engaged went out in search of birds’ eggs, for tea.

When night came, all were ready for sleep.

Next morning, Sabbath School was held on the beach after breakfast, Wilkes Young acting as superintendent.

By sunrise Sunday everyone was astir ready for work, according to his particu lar choice—fishing or bird-hunting or cutting timber. Some chose to go in search of shells on the shoals in the lagoon. No less active than the men, the women busied themselves with femi nine work—cooking, broom and basket making, or gathering shells by the sea shore.

SUCH was the daily routine for five beautiful days. Then the wind pulled to the north-east, a fair direction for the return voyage. In the evening George Warren, our navigator, advised everyone to be ready to sail for home the following afternoon, should the wind hold fair, which it did. Next morn ing, earlier than usual, the entire en campment was active, hurriedly making all needed preparation to go home, some reluctantly, while others were glad to be returning.

Four o’clock found the boats all out side and sailing around the reef. Half an hour later we were on our course for Pitcairn with as fair and favourable wind and weather as we had going down.

We landed at Bounty Bay about 3 o’clock in the afternoon of April 3.

Such trips in our small whaleboats are not without risk or danger, but most Pit cairn Islanders are fond of the sea and much enjoy a journey to one of our neighbouring islands, Henderson or Oeno.