Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite

Report on Pitcairn Island
by Commander Torlesse (H.M.S. Royalist)
from "Pitcairn Island: Correspondence relating
to the condition of the Pitcairn Islanders."
(October 5, 1898)

Sir,

      I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, copy of a Report on Pitcairn Island by the Commanding Officer of H.M.S. "Royalist," dated 5th October.

Sir,

      I have the honour to submit the following remarks on Pitcairn Island for your information: —

      On opening the High Commissioner's Court, held on the Island, the Judicial Commissioner read the proclamation issued by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, placing Pitcairn Island under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, and ordered the same to be posted up, and shown to the captain of any British man-of-war calling in the future.

      2. On approach the Island presents a much more barren aspect than one was led to expect from former descriptions. This I ascertained to be due to the gradual disappearance of trees which formerly grew all over the Island, and, consequent on their disappearance, the soil on the steep slopes has been washed away. There is still, however, a large area of deep and exceedingly fertile soil left in the valleys and on the hills in the interior.

      3. The loss of the trees in question seems to have affected the climate, as the people now complain a good deal of droughts, in fact the yam and sweet potato crops were very backward at the time we were there, owing to this cause.

      4. The oranges that we obtained were as fine as any I have seen in any other part of the world, but the breadfruit trees were affected by some blight or disease, and had ceased to bear fruit. Yams and sweet potatoes grew well, but the former crop was subject entirely to the absence of droughts, and the chance of its failure was a source of considerable anxiety to the people, who depend largely on it for their food supply.

      5. Arrowroot is made on the Island, and the output could he considerably increased were proper arrangements made for carrying it to a market. I was informed that any quantity would be accepted at Tahiti.

      6. Coffee seems to grow freely, but is not cultivated for the market, in fact, as there is no regular communication the people do not seem to think of any regular system of manufacturing produce, but just lay by a little in case of a chance of disposing of it, and in consequence, I understand, lose a good deal of their labour through deterioration.

      7. The population is now 141, composed as follows: —

      8. In bodily appearance the people look healthy and vigorous, but the same cannot be claimed for them mentally. In the latter respect they show a distinct deficiency, which was noted by everyone on board, and could not he mistaken for the simplicity due only to want of communication with the outside world.

      9. The moral sense of the people seems to be weak, and some of the things we heard would tend to show that a very serious state of affairs existed in that respect.

      10. There appears to be a distinct reason for their condition when it is remembered that the present population of 141 is derived, with one exception, from the 42 people, i.e., 14 adults and 28 children, that returned from Norfolk Island between 1859 and 1864, consisting of four families only, and they already closely related. It was the opinion of all on board, and of the most intelligent of the islanders themselves, that this state of affairs should not be allowed to continue if means can be found to remedy it.

      11. From all that I have gathered on the subject, I consider that if regular communication were established it would be a boon to the islanders, and would go a long way towards correcting the unsatisfactory state of affairs that undoubtedly exists at present.

      12. I submit this could be accomplished by establishing communication with Manga Reva Island, in the Paumoto Group, which is already in communication with Tahiti.

      13. By this means the people of Pitcairn would be able to get to and fro as they wished, and also would be enabled to dispose of such produce as they can raise and manufacture on the Island. Such produce, I understand, would in course of time be sufficient to enable them to pay a tax, at any rate in kind, to cover the expense of establishing this communication, and the young people would be induced to go abroad to seek employment. The principal cause preventing their going now is the uncertainty of being able to return, and the absence of regular posts.

      14. There should be no difficulty in obtaining a contract at Tahiti to establish this service, say three times a year, as schooners already trade to Manga Reva, a distance of only 300 miles from Pitcairn.

      15. This scheme is only put forward as an alternative to removing them altogether, which would no doubt be the better plan, especially as, judging from the increasing reports of droughts and the deforestation of the island, their removal will become an absolute necessity at no very distant date.

      16. I had a good many applications for passage to Tahiti, but did not take any one, as could not tell how my bringing people to that place would be regarded by the French authorities. I informed the Governor of Tahiti of the facts, and he said "they were anxious to get people to come and settle in Tahiti, and that there was employment waiting for any number."

Rear-Admiral Hugo Lewis Pearson, R.N.,
      Commander-in-Chief H.M. Ships and Vessels,
                        Australia.

      Captain Arthur W. Torlesse, (1857 – 1939) commanded H.M.S. Royalist on the Pacific Station from January 14, 1898 until November 4, 1899. He was the first officer in the Royal Navy to command a destroyer.

Document no. 117. October 5, 1898. "Report on Pitcairn Island by Commander Torlesse (H.M.S. Royalist) from 'Pitcairn Island: Correspondence relating to the condition of the Pitcairn Islanders.'". Pages 1728 to 1729.

Pitcairn's Island  Notes  Source  Whalesite