Pitcairn's Island  Source  Whalesite

      The accompanying letter has been received within a few days past from the people of Pitcairn's Island, the descendants of tho Bounty's mutineers. I think it will not be devoid of interest to the reading and benevolent world. It is from the Rev. Mr. Nobbs, their teacher, pastor, physician, and friend in all straits. He went to the island about thirty-five years ago. The people are most secluded and primitive. The power of Christianity to elevate and purify has nowhere been more strikingly displayed than among them. Deeply degraded they were when old John Adams, almost the sole survivor of the the original mutineers, repenting of his own misdeeds, commenced with the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer to instruct the children. Their mothers were heathen women from Tahiti; their fathers English mutineers, who, with hardly an exception, perished by violence at each others' hands. On such an offspring the old penitent began to test the religion of Christ. And it may: be said that no community on the earth to-day surpasses them for purity of character and deportment.

      The letter is of an old date. Communication is very unfrequent; more so now, since the people have removed to Norfolk Island, from which the convicts had been previously withdrawn. The letter is as follows:

      My esteemed Brother and Sister, David and Jane Trumbull: Grace, mercy and peace be with you and yours; and may that land where you are now, and I formerly dwelt, hear the glad tidings of salvation by faith in the atonement, and be numbered among the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.

      You have heard ere this of our removal to Norfolk Island, which took place some two years since. It was a sad leavetaking, that bidding farewell to our "Rocks of the West." But there was an imperative necessity in tho rapid increase of the community, and so opportune and liberal an offer as that made us by the British Government would not admit of hesitation. So with tearful eyes and heavy hearts, on the third of May, 1856, we embarked on board the Morayshire, a splendid ship of one thousand tons, and, after a comfortable, though somewhat protracted passage of thirty-five days, arrived here, with an increase of one born on the passage. From that time to the present, we.have been busily engaged in various ways, to wit: tending cattle, shearing sheep, making fences, dividing the island into fifty acre lots, and last, but not least, cultivating the ground; but not having yet been able to procure ploughs, our old fashioned hoes and mattocks do not enable us to proceed in a very speedy manner. Wheat will not thrive here by reason of the smut; but Indian corn will do very well in favourable seasons, that is when a sufficiency of rain falls. Continued drought will, I fear, be the great drawback upon our agricultural exertions. Of sweet potatoes we can, under ordinary circumstances, raise any quantity. We have also a plentiful supply of milk and butter, of which all hands are becoming very fond.

      Our dwelling houses are substantial stone and plaster buildings, glazed, and with verandahs back and front, one story high, and very commodious: such a one as we inhabit could not be obtained (bought) in Valparaiso for a thousand pounds sterling. But we know nothing of plastering and shingling, and the roofs are getting out of

order, but I suppose we can learn. (These buildings were there before the arrival of the Pitcairn people.) The church is a large building capable of containing a thousand people, but sadly out of repair about the roof. There is also (what was) a Roman Catholic place of worship, nearly as large, out of repair, and of course out of use.

      We have military barracks three stories high, now used as a school house; store-houses of large size, all built of stone, and would last many years if the roofs could be kept in order. We have, moreover, inclosed within massive walls a prison, with at least a hundred cells, desolnte – desolate. It is, of course, locked up, and never visited, except strangers desire to inspect it.

      Running water is very scarce, so that there is no irrigating the soil. All our water is drawn from wells fifty or sixty feet deep. We have some four hundred head of cattle, and twelve hundred sheep, but these last are sadly infected with scab, which is a great draw-back on our resources, for we had hoped with the proceeds of the wool to obtain from Sydney the many domestic articles we need, and which we cannot obtain from internal resources. However, in a year or two, I trust, Amercan whaleships will visit us, as of old, for a supply of sweet potatoes and beef, and then we shall, if it please God, be quite independent. At present it is a sharp pinch for clothing.

      Our community amounts to two hundred and seventeen, nearly equal as to sex. Of these eighty are communicants. Sixty are school children. The rest are under the age of six years. The tenor of our way is much the same as it was at Pitcairn's, and trust the one thing needful is still considered the one thing needful.

      As for myself, I have nearly attained my sixtieth year, and am beginning to find my sight fail me somewhat – that is to say, I cannot see to write for any considerable length of time, and am frequently obliged to use printed sermons, (reading,) when I do not preach extempore. Otherwise I feel as able to attend to my various duties as ever. Since my return from England, I have never missed but one public service, on Sunday, or other appointed time. Such, I thank God, has been the excellent state of my health.

      June 14, 1859. – This letter has lain by me twelve months, without an opportunity of sending it. There is now a ship, bound to Tahiti, passing by, and I have only time to say we are all well and comfortable. Two families have gone back to Pitcairn's. God bless you all. Yours, most sincerely,

      Thus, in the true spirit of an apostle, if not rather of the Great Physician himself, this man is pursuing a path humble, yet noble. He is a missionary indeed. Having held a commission in this navy, the Chilian, he returned to England, his native country. There he saw his mother die, and then set out for Pitcairn's Island, intending there to do what he might among and for that isolated people. All unknown to the world, until of late years, has he wrought at his chosen task. He has fitted himself for practicing medicine and surgery, trained himself to conduct religious worship, and taught the young, almost without books or any materials, save the willing and earnest mind.

      It may be proper to suggest that any charitably disposed person or persons might render those far-off dwellers in the Pacific an immense benefit, if they would make up a box or two of plain, substantial and useful articles to send them; and if forwarded from New-York to Sydney, or to bishop Selwyn, of New-Zealand, the articles would scarcely fail of reaching their destination. Writing-books, school and reading-books, papers, clothing, cotton cloth, bleached and brown, thread, needles, calico, flannels, medicines, tools and farming utensils would be most welcome.

      We hope to make up a supply to send them by the first opportunity from this port.

      Mr. Editor, I am truly yours,

Pitcairn's Island: Letter from a Missionary – Condition of Affairs on the Island.       The Sailor's Magazine.
Vol. 33, No. 2 (October, 1860).
pp. 42-43.

Pitcairn's Island  Source  Whalesite