A Link With The "Bounty"

By W, W. Bolton, Ma

rE writer ventures to add a supple ment to the very interesting article in the November “PIM” dealing with the removal of the Pitcairners to Tahiti, and trusts that the following historical items —but little known—may prove acceptable both to R. C. Macpherson and the magazine’s widely-scattered readers. 1825: The first mention made of a removal appears with the arrival at Pit cairn of HM Sloop “Blossom,” Captain Beechy, RN, who reported home as follows: “Pitcairn Island, “October 21, 1825.

“We found all well; the Patriarch still alive and in good health. Their numbers increasing fast and the earth does not yield as it used; and Adams very rea sonably apprehends that a distress and famine will visit the rising generation if they are not removed. He has begged me to solicit the attention of the Govern ment to this point, praying that they will send some ship to transport them all to some place where they can all settle

together.”

1827; Canning, of the Foreign Office, took action on Beechy’s report and wrote to Tahiti as follows; “Foreign Office, London, “March 3, 1827.

“To King Pomare 111, — “It has become desirable that certain individuals who have been living for many years past on Pitcairn’s Island should be removed from thende to some other settlement in the Pacific. His Majesty has therefore given orders that a ship shall be employed, conveying them and their families to Tahiti, provided you may be willing to receive them into your dominions. The British Government per suades itself that you will not refuse your

consent and will be pleased to extend your protection to them.” 1829: Fever—seemingly influenza—rav aged Pitcairn, brought by a whaler whose sick crew the islanders housed and nursed back to health. Whaler and men departed, but the ’flu did not. Adams, the patriarch and the last of the mutineers of 1790, fell a victim, aged 65.

The same year, the Boy King of Tahiti having died his sister Queen Pomare IV answered Cannmg as follows: “In relation to the persons now residing on Pitcarm’s Island, they shall be kindly received and well treated whenever they shall arrive.”

Cantain Beechv the A tram Captain Beechy the islanders as a whole expressed few real wishes to remove. They were content. Though they came of stock who had defied and broken the law. they were one and all enthusiastic Britishers, devoted subjects of their King and profoundly conscious of their duty to obey authority. Adams had seen 1831:' In February, HMS •.‘Comet" arrived at the island and Captain San

dilands dropped a bombshell upon the contented community with the news that he had orders to carry the whole lot off to Tahiti. The British Government had provided a six months’ supply of food.

Following closely upon the warship, there came the “Lucy Ann,” from Sydney, to receive them and their belongings. This vessel had been called into service from Norfolk Island and doubtless the Pitcairn ers first heard from its crew news of a spot destined to be their final home.

The unhappy people, whose numbers now had reached 87, were faced with a dilemma. They had no wish to go, their beloved leader lay in his grave among them —but it was an order from Home.

They could not rebel; therefore, without any heart in the matter, they obeyed.

PITCAIRN was deserted, save for a few animals run wild. Tahiti was reached in March, 1831. Before one month was up, they had had enough. The morals of the Tahitians were not to the taste of the strict Pitcairners. The elders saw their younger members soon getting ou,t of hand.

The change took heavy toll; 12 died in quick succession of the malignant ’flu.

Before April was out, Buffett and nine others hired a small schooner and fled: four on board died upon the wav, and yet another on their arrival. Their voy age was prolonged, for contrary winds blew them to the Western Pacific islands, where a French brig came to their rescue and carried the remnant home.

The British Consul, Charlton, took pity on the remaining 65 and, chartering the «alem brig. “Charles Doggett,” Captain Driver, sent them back in September, 1831 —five dying unon their arrival. The removal to Tahiti cost 22 lives of both old and young. But the three “outsiders,”

Buffett and Evans (who had joined the band in 1823) and Nobbs (who had landed in 1828) came safely through the ordeal.

The latter resumed his self-imposed duties, not only that of school master (to the natural annoyance of Buffett, whom the little community shelved in favour of an educated man), but of physi cian and surgeon, together with a lay chaplaincy he felt it his duty to assume. 1852: Rear-Admiral Moresby called, in his flagship, “The Portland.” He was a deeply religious man and at once became most anxious that the islanders should have the full privileges of Mother Church, its sacraments. He offered to pay Nobbs’ passage Home for ordination, with £lOO pocket-money, to start him upon arrival: and, so that they should not suffer during Nobbs’ absence, he left his own Chaplain, Holman, on the island.

Nobbs reached Home, was readily ordained by the Bishop of London, made much of, presented to Queen Victoria, preached from many pulpits, raised con siderable money for the purchase of the most pressing needs of his parish islanders, and in due course returned as Chaplain to Pitcairn Island, with the princely salary of £5O a year for life. He died, aged 85. 1858: Now housed on Norfolk Island, 16 of the community grew homesick and in December hired" the schooner “Mary Ann” and were once again on Pitcairn.

They were the Youngs and the McCoys. 1863: There was another stirring in the hive, and 27 went back in the schooner “Saint Kilda.” They were Christians, Mills and Buffetts, and fur ther Youngs. They left their Chaplain behind, and neither the Home authorities nor the mission societies took any action to fill the need. They may have been ignorant of the situation or resented the return, after so much had been done for them.

And so we reach the change of faith.

Men were needed as labourers on white men’s plantations on Raiatea, in the Society Group near Tahiti. It was thought that some on distant Pitcairn might be willing to serve. The planters sent a schooner and secured a handful.

That was in 1885-86.

The Seventh Day Adventists on Raia tea, ever on the look-out for fresh fields, learned from these of the vacant ground.

They saw the welcome opportunity and siezed it. 1886: In October the Seventh Day Adventist missionary, John I. Tay, an American, landed on the island, and Pit

cairn changed its Sabbath together with acceptance of all other tenets of the new found faith, none dissenting.

Professor Peter H. Buck, Director of the Bishop Museum, of Honolulu, stated in a private letter recently that he is engaged at present on three books—one which shows the changes that occurred after the various waves of Polynesians had settled in New Zealand; one an appraisal of existing literature relating to certain aspects of Polynesian life; and one which is a study of Hawaiian arts and crafts.