and evening prayers, they may be said to have chnrch five times on a
Sunday.
Marriages and christenings are duly performed by Adams. A ring
which has united every person on the island is used for the occasion,
and given according to the prescribed form. The age at which this
is allowed to take place, with the men, is after they have reached their
tw'entieth, and with the women, their eighteenth year.
All which remains to be said of these excellent people is, that
they appear to live together in perfect harmony and contentment; to
be virtuous, religious, cheerful, and hospitable, beyond the limits of
•prudence; to be patterns of conjugal and parental affection ; and to
have very few vices. W e remained with them many days, and their
unreserved manners gave us the fullest opportunity of becoming acquainted
with any faults they might have possessed.
In the equipment of the Blossom a boat was built purposely for
her by IMr. Peake of Y’oolwich dock-yard, upon a model highly creditable
to his professional ability, and finished in the most complete
manner. As we were now about to enter a sea crowded with islands
which rise abruptly to the surface, without any soundings to give
warning of their vicinity, this little vessel was likely to be of the
greatest service, not only in a minute examination of the shore, but, by
being kept a-head of the ship during the night, to give notice of any
danger that might lie in her route. She was accordingly hoisted
out while we were off this island, and stowed and provisioned for six
weeks. I gave the command of her to Mr. Elson, the master, an officer,
well qualified to perform the service I had in view; having with him
Mr. R. Beechey, midshipman, and a crew of eight seamen and marines.
Instructions were given to Mr. Elson for his guidance, and proper rendezvous
appointed in case of separation. We first experienced the utility
of this excellent sea-boat, in bringing off water from the shore through
seas which in ordinary cases would have proved serious obstacles ; and
had there not been so much surf upon the rocks, that the casks could only
be got through it by the natives swimming out with them, we should in
a short time have completed our stock of water. This process, however,
was very harassing to them, who, besides this arduous task, had to
bring the water from a distance in calabashes; so, that with the utmost CHAP.
despatch, our daily supply scarcely equalled the consumption, and we
were compelled to trust to the hope of being more fortunate at some
Dec.
182.1.
other island.
During the period of our stay in the vicinity of the island, we
scarcely saw the sun, and I began to despair of being able to fix our
position with sufficient accuracy. On the SOth, however, the clouds
cleared away, and the night was passed in obtaining lunar distances
with stars east and west of the moon, several meridional altitudes, and
transits which, compared with those taken the first night the instrument
was put up, gave good rates to the chronometers. Our labours
having thus terminated more successfully than rve expected, we hastened
our embarkation, which took place on the 21st. In return for the
kindness we experienced from the islanders, we made them presents of
articles the most useful to them which we could spare, and they were
furnished with a blue cloth suit each from the extra clothing put on
board for the ship’s company, and the women with several pieces of
gowns and handkerchiefs, &c.
YVhen we were about to take leave, our friends assembled to e.x-
press their regret at our departure. All brought some little present
for our acceptance, which they wished us to keep in remembrance of
them ; after which they accompanied us to the beach, where we took
our leave of the female part of the inhabitants. Adams and the young
men pushed off in their own boat to the ship, determined to accompany
us to sea as far as they could with safety. They continued on
board, unwilling to leave us, until we were a considerable distance from
land, when they shook each of us feelingly by the hand, and, amidst expressions
of the deepest concern at our departure, wished ns a prosperous
voyage, and hoped that we might one day meet again. As
soon as they were clear of the ship they all stood up in their boat, and
gave us three hearty cheers, which were as heartily returned. As the
weather became foggy, the barge towed them towards the shore, and we
took a final leave of them, unconscious until the moment of separation
of the warm interest their situation and good conduct had created in ns.
The Pitcairn islanders are tall, robust, and healthy. Their average