Pitcairn's Island  Source  Whalesite

      Pitcairn's Island, Jan. 11, 1844. – Dear Sir. – Your letter to me dated Sept. 29, 1843, and forwarded by Capt. Richmond, is now in my possession, and I am about to comply with your wishes. The magistrate, or chief ruler, is chosen yearly by the people. On the 1st of January all the inhabitants that are eligible to vote, from 18 years old and upwards, give in their votes for a magistrate or councillor. After the magistrate is chosen, he has the privilege of choosing an assistant if he pleases. It is his duty to hear all grievances, assemble the people together, to state the object of the meeting, hear the complainant and the defendant, and commit the case to a jury of seven persons; whatever the jury decides he is to see it executed. As regards religion, I am sorry to say it is very low. Trade and traffic are all the go at present. There are some who still regard religion; and family worship morning and evening still is kept up by the major part of the families, and public service twice on the Sabbath day; but, alas! public schools and weekly meetings for perusing the Scriptures, are entirely given up by the whole inhabitants; so I may safely say religion is on the decline. The next thing you desire to know is the produce of the island; to which I reply; yams, sweet potatoes, Irish ditto, onions, plantains, corn, &c.; fruits of various kinds, such as cocoa-nuts, oranges, pine-apples, &c.; animal food, – hogs, goats, ducks, &c. In exchange; cotton cloth, (white and blue), calicoes of various kinds, cotton shirts, both coarse and fine; tea, fish-hooks and all kinds of earthen ware, knives of all kinds, soap, &c. No vessels are owned by the people. No proper school-master, and no appointed minister, are among us. As to your last request, I am not able to inform you aright: but I believe the government here is supported by the British government.

      To the Rev. S. C. Damon, Sea Chap.

"Pitcairn's Island."
      The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle, for 1845.
Enlarged series, No. 1 — vol. for 1845.
p. 164.

Pitcairn's Island  Source  Whalesite