Revised Jun 19 2021
March 24th. Sunday, at daylight we found ourselves off the settlement, which is on the north side of the island, but for some time no notice appeared to be taken of us on the island. At 8 A.M. we saw a red flag hoisted near the precipice in front of the settlement; tacked ship and stood in towards the island, when we perceived a boat coming from the shore under sail, which proved to be a whale boat with nine islanders in it.
After going through the usual ceremonies of putting innumerable questions to each other, we prepared to go off immediately; but they objected to do so, as it was Sunday, telling him, however, that if it were a matter of necessity, they would bring him off a little, which they did, about 180 gallons during the day. They all strongly recommended the captain to anchor, as several vessels lately requiring water had done so; but he told them it was too much trouble hauling up the chains and bending them, a trouble which he might easily have overcome in about half an hour, as they were quite handy. The fact is, there was a sort of supercargo on board, who appeared to have more to say about it than the captain, and who ultimately carried his point in not anchoring the vessel. Had the captain acted in a manner which he thought would have benefitted the owners, and not have listened to the opinions of a boy, who knew as much about his supercargoship as he did about the expediting of the vessel, he would have saved much time and expense.
At 10 A.M. the islanders took their departure to procure the water, and the ship's board went on shore—the captain, Mr. Webster, Mr. Carleton, Mr. Taylor, and myself, with an islander to pilot us through the surf to the landing-place. Upon landing we were met by a few islanders, the remainder being at church. After conversing with them at the landing for some twenty minutes, the captain made up his mind to remain off the island under easy sail until the next day, to enable him to complete his watering, and to procure fruit, potatoes, &c., &c.
We then made a start for the settlement, ascending a very steep hill at an angle of forty-five degrees, which was very slippery after the rain, which fell very heavily in the morning, the first that had fallen here for two months. After climbing about 200 feet, and then getting over a stile, which was placed to prevent the cattle from approaching the settlement, we came to the market-place, a small open space surrounded by cocoa-nut trees; and a few hundred yards farther, came to the village, to which the inhabitants have not at present given a name. It is very prettily placed, with a lovely view of the sea between the trees,
In passing the church we found that the service had only just commenced. I proposed accordingly that we should join in it, and in a few mintes we were all in prayer among the islanders. Upon our going into this neat little church, the congregation did not appear so full of curiosity as might have been expected; hardly any so much as turned round to see whom we were like.
During the service the marriage ceremony was performed between two young persons, who seemed rather bashful on the occasion, which, I presume, was on account of so many strangers being present. Lydia Young and Daniel McCoy were the names of the happy couple. After church was over, we all congratulated the happy couple, and shook hands with every one, which took some time. After introducing ourselve to Mr. Nobbs, the minister, we proceeded to his house, where we ate some fruit, and then took a walk about the island.
About 3 P.M. one of the islanders reported that our vessel, the barque Noble, had carried away her fore-yard, which we thought strange, as there had been but little wind during the morning; but which still might have been possible, as we had sprung it badly before arriving at Pitcairn's Island. After a short time, however, we saw the vessel under easy sail, showing no signs of any mishap.
After our walk, our captain and Mr. Supercargo left a list of articles required for the Noble, which the islanders promised to take off on the morrow. They then took their leave of us all, as they intended sleeping on board the barque Noble that night. Previous to their leaving us, they both, especially the captain, gave us leave to remain on shore all night, in presence of nearly all the islanders, stating at the same time that they were going to take off an islander with them, of the name of Matthew Quintal, and bidding us be ready to go on board the following morning. We now mustered five passengers on shore, two others having come on shore in a shore boat.