Revised Jun 3, 2021
There they were soon visited by sickness, which so rapidly thinned their numbers, that they made up their minds to return without delay; a resolution in which they were confirmed by their dislike of the levity and immorality which surrounded them.
Capt. Freemantle, of H. M. S. Challenger, in his report to the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated May 30th, 1830*, mentions, that when be arrived at Tahiti, he found that the Pitcairn islanders had left Tahiti, and had returned to their island again, having been assisted by the Missionaries and the Europeans on the island to freight an American vessel, to convey them thither—they being much discontented and unhappy, and a sickness having become prevalent amongst them, which had carried off twelve of their number. “It is an extraordinary circumstance,” says Capt. Freemantle, “that many of the copper bolts of the Bounty, which had been brought to Otahite from Pitcairn’s Island by the islanders, were taken by the master of the vessel as part payment for their freight, to the amount of 200 dollars.”
∗[The year is incorrect, it should be 1831.]
The removal of these people to Tahiti was one of the most unfortunate circumstances that ever befell this community. For a time they were constantly distilling ardent spirits made from the ti-root, and many of them drank to great excess, even after they returned to Pitcairn’s Island; but fortunately, in the latter part of 1833, all the stills upon Pitcairn’s Island were destroyed, which was a great blessing to every one on the island.