CH AP . will be required for the annual consumption of the island; this they
I'’' reckon at 1000 yams to each person. The other roots, being considered
Dec.
1S2.5.
more as luxuries, are cultivated in irregular quantities. I ’he failure of
a crop, so exactly estimated, must of course prove of serious consequence
to the colony, and much anxiety is occasionally felt as the
season approaches for gathering it. At times cold south-westerly winds
nip the young plants, and turn such as are exposed to them quite black:
during our visit several plantations near the sea-coast were affected in this
manner. At other times caterpillars prove a great source of annoyance.
The yam is reproduced in the same manner as potatoes in England.
The taro ( arum esculentum) requires either a young shoot to be broken
off and planted, or the stem to be removed from the root, and planted
after the manner of raising pine-apples. The yappe is a root very
similar to the taro, and is treated in the same manner. All the above-
mentioned farinaceous roots thrive extremely well in Pitcairn Island ;
but this is not the case with English potatoes, which cannot be brought
even to a moderate growth. Peas and beans yield but very scanty
crops, the soil being probably too dry for them, and are rarely seen at
the repasts of the natives. Onions, so universally dispersed over the
globe, cannot be made to thrive here. Pumpkins and water-melons bear
exceedingly well, but the bread-fruit, from some recent cause, is beginning
to give very scanty crops. This failure Adams attributes to some
trees being cut down, that protected them from the cold winds, which
is not improbable; for at Otaheite, where the trees are exposed to the
south-west winds, the crops are very indifferent.
Having given this short sketch of the soil and vegetation of the
island, I shall add a few words on the climate and winds.
The island is situated just without the regular limit of the ti ade-
winds, which, however, sometimes reach it. Y"hen this is the case, the
weather is generally fine and settled. The south-west and north-west
winds, which blow strong and bring heavy rains, are the chief interruptions
to this serenity. Though they have a rainy season, it is not so
limited or decided as in places more within the influence of the trade-
winds. During the period of our visit, from the 5th of December to the
21st, we had strong breezes from N . E. to S. E., with the sky overcast.
The wind then shifted to N . YE., and brought a great deal of C H A P .
rain : though in the height of summer, we had scarcely a fine day
during our stay. ^
The temperature of the island during the above period was 70^“.
On shore the range from nine a .m . to three p.m. was 7 6 ° to 80”: on
board at the same time from 74° to 76°. Taking the difference between
these comparisons, we may place the mean temperature on shore for the
above-mentioned period at 76i°. In the winter the south-westerly
winds blow very cold, and even snow has been known to fall.
The number of persons on Pitcairn Island in December, 1825,
amounted to sixty-six, and for the information of such as may be
disposed to give their particular attention to such an inquiry, I
have subjoined in a note the population from the period of its first
establishment on the island*. In a climate so temperate, with but few
Males. Females.
* The first settlers consisted of . . . ^
^coloured G 12
15 1 2 ------ 27 Total.
C YY’hite . 6 0
O f th e s e were killed in th e q u arrel 0 q
___________________ by accident . . . white . 1 3
—- died a natural d e a th 1 3
Total deatlis 14------------G-------1 Yveut away.
The original settlers therefore whom we fouiuQ ^ .
on the island YY-ere ................................................ S
The children of the Yvhite settlers (the men of ) jq
colour liaY'ing left n o n e ) .................................5
Their grandchildren...................................................... 22 15
Recent settlers.............................................................. 2 0
Child of one of them ................................................. 1 0
3 6 30 66 present population.
The total number of children left by the Yvhite settlers was fourteen, of whom two died a
natural death ; one was seized YYuth fits, to YYdiicli he M"as subject, while in the water, and was
drowned ; and one was killed by accident, leaving ten, as aboY'e. Of the grandchildren, or
second generation, there was also another male who died an accidental death. There have,
therefore, been si-xty-two births in the period of thirty-five years, from the 23d January, 1790,
to the 23d December, 1825. and only tYvo natural deaths.
o 2