Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Rear-Admiral de Horsey (H.M.S. Shah) to
Admiralty, enclosing copy of
Pitcairn Island Laws as Appendix 2
(September 17, 1878)

      (No. 283.)

Sir,

      I request you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that as Pitcairn'Island lay in my track from Esquimalt to Valparaiso, and the weather being sufficiently favourable for landing, I took advantage of the circumstance to visit that island for the purpose of ascertaining the condition of the inhabitants, and also to obtain refreshments on this long voyage.

      2. Having sighted Pitcairn at daylight on the 8th instant, we arrived at Bounty Bay at 8 a.m. and remained off the island until noon the following day, when we proceeded on our voyage.

      3. A few particulars as to the present condition of this small and almost inaccessible island, the only spot of British territory lying in the vast triangle between Vancouver, Falkland, and Fiji Islands, may not be uninteresting to their Lordships, and are therefore made the subject of this letter.

      4. The population at present numbers 90 of all ages, of which, 41 males and 49 females, a nominal return of whom is furnished in Appendix No. 1. By this return it will be observed that there is but one survivor of the generation which immediately followed the mutineers, viz. : Elizabeth Young, aged about 88, daughter of John Mills, gunner's mate of the "Bounty," and of an Otaheitian mother. The oldest man on the island is Thursday October Christian, aged 59, grandson of Fletcher Christian, master's mate of the "Bounty." The population may be further described as consisting of 16 men, 19 women, 25 boys, and 30 girls. The deaths on the island have numbered about 12 in the last 19 years. No contagious diseases visit the island, nor are the animals subject to disease. A few medicines which were sent from Valparaiso, in H.M. Ship "Reindeer," are administered, as required, by the pastor.

      5. Pitcairn Island is governed by a "magistrate and chief ruler in subordination to Her Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain," who not only administers the laws, but also enacts them. There are two councillors to advise and assist the chief magistrate, besides which, the "heads of families" are convened for consultation when required. In Appendix No. 2, I furnish a copy of the laws. They bear no date, but were, I am informed, drawn up by the present chief magistrate on accession to office, and are evidently culled from former ones now destroyed. The almost puerile simplicity of the laws is perhaps the best evidence of the good conduct of the people. The law is, in fact, merely preventive, no case of theft, fornication, or use of profane language (apparently the only three crimes contemplated as possible) having been known to occur since the laws were drawn up.

      6. The chief magistrate is elected aninially on New Year's Day, and is open to re-election. Both sexes of and above the age of 17 have a vote. The office is at present filled by Mr. James Russell McKoy, who is also steersman of the whaleboat which he built, and which is the only boat on the island. I have addressed a separate letter to their Lordships relative to certain questions concerning the government of the island raised by the chief magistrate.

      7. Divine service is held every Sunday at 10.30. A.M., and at 3. P.M., in the house built and used by John Adams for that purpose until he died in 1829. It is conducted strictly in accordance with the liturgy of the Church of England, by Mr. Simon Young, their selected pastor, who is much respected. A Bible class is held every Wednesday, when all, who conveniently can, attend. There is also a general meeting for prayer on the first Friday in every month. Family prayers are said in every house the first thing in the morning and the last thing in the evening, and no food is partaken of without asking God's blessing before and afterwards. Captain Beechey, writing fifty-three years ago, says "these excellent people appear to live together in perfect harmony and

"contentment, to be virtuous, religious, cheerful, and hospitable; to be patterns of conjugal and parental affection, and to have very few vices." I have ventured to quote these words as they hold true to this day, the children having followed in the footsteps of their parents. The observance of Sunday is very strict; no work is done; but this is not in any pharisaical spirit, as shown on the occasion of our visit, which chanced to be on a Sunday, when everything consistent with not neglecting Divine service was done to supply us with refreshments for the crew, the chief magistrate arguing that it was a good work, and necessary, as the ship could not wait. Of these islanders' religious attributes no one can speak without deep reaped. A People whose greatest pleasure and privilege is to commune in prayer with their God, and to join in hymns of praise, and who are moreover cheerful, diligent, and probably freer from vice than any other community, need no priest amongst them.

      8. The pastor also fulfils the duty of schoolmaster, in which he is assisted by his daughter, Rosalind Amelia Young. The instruction comprises reading, writing, arithmetic, Scripture history, and geography. The girls learn sewing and hat making as well and the whole are taught part-singing very effectively. Every child and unmarried woman at present has to attend school from 9 till 12, and from 1 to 3, p.m. Schooling is conducted in the Church house, one end of which is used as a library, open to all. English is the only language spoken or known.

      9. The Pitcairn islanders are of course entirely dependent upon their own resources. They grow sweet potatoes, yams, plantains, &c., and formerly plenty of bresd fruit, but these are nearly all dying out. They have also "beans, carrots, turnips, cabbages, and a little maize. Pine-apples, fig-trees, custard apples, and plenty of, oranges, lemons, and cocoanuts. Clothing is obtained alone from passing ships in barter fer refreshments. A few sheep, goats, pigs, fowla, cats, and dogs. There are no springa on the island, but as it rains generally once a month, they have plenty of water, although _at times in former years they have suffered from drought. No alcoholic liquors, except for medical purposes, are used, and a drunkard is unknown. The houses are well ventilated, and furnished sufficient for their simple wants. Scarcely any trees good for timber grow here. There is no money on the island except such few poins as may be kept as curiosities.

      10. The men are chiefly employed tilling their grounds, farming, house building, canoe fishing, &c.; the women in cooking, sewing, hat and basket making; all are industrious, and willingly take their share of public work when required. This at present is enlarging the Church house, to meet the wants of an increasing population.

      11. The only communication with the outer world is by means of passing ships, averaging perhaps one a month, and chiefly those on their way to and from San Francisco, but this is precarious, as most ships fetch to windward of Pitcairn, and those that do sight the island are frequently unable to communicate. At the time of our visit the landing was considered good, but it was necessary to wateh for a smooth, and to use a light boat. They have no communication whatever with Otaheite, and very rarely with NorfOlk Island or New Zealand.

      12. The necessary articles required by the islanders are best shown by those we furnished in barter for refreshments, viz., flannel, serge, drill, half boots, combs, tobacco, and soap. They also stand much in need of maps and slates for their school, and tools of any kind are most acceptable. I caused them to be supplied from the public stores with a union jack, for display on ships' arrival, and a pit saw, of which they were greatly in need. This I trust will meet the approval of their Lordships. If the munificent people of England were only aware of the wants of this most deserving little colony, they would not long go unsupplied. I would suggest that anything desired to be sent be addressed to the care of the Admiral on, this station, either at Coquimbo or Vancouver Island, to go by first man-of-war. If sent by private ship, goods may never reach.

      13. Within the last two years or so two wrecks have occurred; the English ship "Khandish " on Oen's Island, and the English ship "Cornwallis" en Pitcairn Island. In both cases the crews took refuge on Pitcairn Island, remaining respectively over six weeks and three days, and receiving every assistance, including, food and clothing, from the scanty supplies of the Pitcairn islanders. At the wreck of the "Cornwallis" the islanders, in rendering assistance, lost one of their lives and their only boat, and thus their only means of communicating with passing ships. The_present chief magistrate has since built a whale boat with such materials as were available, but With iron nails, and therefore rapidly going to decay; nor could anything be recovered from the ship wrecked on the island. The Pitcairn islanders have received nothing as a reward for their efforts in these cases, and for encouragement for the future. There is a

rumour of some articles having been sent, but if sent they probably passed the island, and may never reach.

      14. One Stranger, an American, has settled on the island, a doubtful acquisition. A few of the islanders have expressed a desire to return to Norfolk Island — a not unnatural wish for change — but the chief magistrate thinks none are likely to go.

      15. The islanders, at my invitation, visited the "Shah." No less than 68 men, women, and children, out of a total of 90, came on board, regardless of the difficulties of embarking, and the wind and rain. Their poor thin garments were nearly wet through, and many were sea-sick, but the pleasure of going on board one of their own country's ships of war outweighed all other considerations, and made them essentially happy.

      16. Finally, I submit to their Lordships that when the service will admit it is desirable that a ship of war should visit Pitcairn annually, and I propose to cause this to be done during the remainder of my command. I submit also that this small colony is deserving such attention and encouragement as Her Majesty's Government may think fit to hold out to it. Her Majesty the Queen does not I believe possess in any part of the world more loyal and affectionate subjects than this little knot of settlers. I may here observe that a notion appears to prevail among the Pitcairn islanders that Her Majesty's Government are displeased with them for having returned from Norfolk Island (which as their Lordships are aware they did in two parties, the first in 1859, and the rest, I think, in 1864,) although their return was I believe at their own expense, and they have since been no burden to the Crown. This notion, whence received I know not, I venture to affirm was without foundation, feeling assured that Her Majesty's Government would rather honour them for preferring the primitive simplicity Of their native island, to either the dissolute manners of Otaheite or even the more civilized but less pure and simple ways of Norfolk Island. No one acquainted with these islanders could fail to respect them. A religious, industrious, happy, and contented people, they will lose rather than gain by contact with other communities.

I have, &c.,
      A. F. R. DE HORSEY,
            Rear Admiral and Commander in Chief.

      I solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, thstl will execute the office of magistrate and chief ruler of Pitcairn Island, in subordination to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, as her representative; and that I will perform the duties of my office zealously, fearlessly, and without partiality, to the utmost of my ability.

      The magistrate is to preside on all public occasions, and if any case is brought to his notice, be is to hear both sides of the question, and to decide and pass judgment accordingly, and should his judgment be objected against, he is to call his councillors to his assistance, according to whose decision the parties are to abide, until the arrival of the first British man of war, to whose commander the case must be submitted, and from whose decision there is no appeal.

      The authority of enacting laws also is invested into his hands; however, he can convene all heads of families to form laws by which they themselves are to be ruled; howbeit, this is optionally of himself. He is to see all laws properly supported, and all fines duly executed, and to summon others to assist him in enforcing his authority..

      1. No person or persons are to call on the magistrate without a good evidence, or satisfactory proof against the accused party or parties, without laying himself _open to whatever fine the magistrate or jury might lay upon him for lost time.

      2. Whoever is convicted of stealing is to be fined according to circumstances, and to make up the property stolen. One half of the fine goes to the informant.

      3. Any two persons being convicted of the crime of fornication are amenable to such a fine as may be laid upon them, and should the crime be committed to such an extent as to produce offspring, and should they not marry afterwards, the father is to support the child as long as it lives. One half of the fine goes to the informant.

      4. Any one being detected. of using profane lan- guage must be submitted to such a fine as the magistrate or jury may think fit to impose. One half the fine goes to the informant.

      5. Any person in a quarrel or passion striking his opponent with the fist, or with any other weapon, must submit himself to whatever fine the magistrate should think fit to impose; and should the, blow be returned (save in case of self defence) they are to submit to the same fine.

      6. If any one should be found guilty of insulting the magistrate, he is to be fined according to whatever fine the magistrate or jury may think fit to impose upon him.

      7. No person being alone on Lotherside, can bring cocoanuts from there; should anyone be found so doing, his cocoanuts are to be taken from him; one half goes to the informant, the rest is to be divided in whatever way the authorities think best; only the guilty one should have none. And further, any three persons accompanying one another can bring cocoanuts from Lotherside from their own patches without being guilty.

      Hogs and fowls doing damage on plantation of any kind may be shot by the owner of the said plantation, two days after the first information, and should the owners of the hogs and fowls refuse to aid him in getting them away to save his things he may use the fowls and hogs (if so inclined) as his own property, and the dainage to be made good if called for.

      9. Any dog being found (going out by himself) chasing or killing goals beyond the boundary line given may be killed on the spot, and should the guilty dog escape, be must be confined by the owner, and the damage made good, but for the second offence the dog must be killed.

      10. No person or perions are to kill any cat, unless doing him damage; if any one be found guilty of so doing, shall be punished by having his dog taken from him and killed; and should the person have no dog, be should be punished by the magistrate. And should a dog go out with his master and fall in with a cat, and chase him, and the owner of the dog make all effort to release the cat, this will save his dog, though the cat die afterwards, but should no effort be made to save the cat, the dog must be confined for the first offence and be killed for the second.

      11. Any dog being found killing fowls or eating eggs, is to be confined by the owner for the first offence, and the damage to be Made good by him, if the owner of the fowl require it, and should the offence be again committed, the dog is to be killed.

      Admiral Sir Algernon Frederick Rous de Horsey KCB DL (25 July 1827 – 22 October 1922) was a Royal Navy officer. From September 20, 1876 until July 21, 1879 he was Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station at Esquimalt on Vancouver Island. He was promoted to vice admiral November 27, 1879 and to Admiral April 29, 1885. He was also appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria.

Document no. 82. September 17, 1878. "Rear-Admiral de Horsey (H.M.S. Shah) to Admiralty, enclosing copy of Pitcairn Island Laws as Appendix 2". Pages 1446 to 1449.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite