Revised Jun 4 2021
Miscellaneous.
High-water at full and change, three hours after the moon rises. Rise and fall, eight feet (so say the islanders). Water may be had in almost any quantity (say three thousand gallons a-day) from the tanks on the west side. The best way of getting it off is to anchor about half a mile off shore, exactly off the watering-place, when the wind is in any way from the eastward, in about twelve fathoms. The casks are taken on shore in rafts, and rolled up to the tanks over a surface of flat rock; it is possible to land there, but not to haul a boat up on shore. The remuneration for watering is from 30s. to 60s., according to the quantity. Wood may be had, in cases of necessity, at three dollars a boat-load; but the islanders would rather not part with it, they themselves requiring a large quantity to boil their salt with. The island appears to be covered with wood, but no timber scarcely exceeds two feet in diameter. The following is a list of the provisions that can be annually spared from the island, and their prices:—
200 to 300 barrels of sweet potatoes, at per barrel, 8s. 100 to 150 “ Irish ditto “ 12s. 100 to 120 “ yams “ 8s. 1500 to 2000 cocoa-nuts, at per hundred 8s. 800 to 400 bunches of plantains, 8 bunches for 4s. 50 dozen fowls, - - at per dozen 12s. 40,000 to 50,000 oranges, at per hundred 4s. 10,000 ditto, at per barrel 8s. 100 gallons of lime-juice, at per gallon 2s. Water melons, pumpkins, and beans, in almost any quantities. Yams come in, in September. Potatoes nearly all the year round. Oranges in March. Cocoa-nuts all the year round. Pumpkins in March. Plantains and bananas all the year round. Water melons, in November.
For these clothing and tools, as well as money, are always acceptable in exchange. A stout, common turning-lathe would be of great benefit to them. Two or three hives of bees, which might be easily sent from New Zealand, are also much wanted there; as well as vegetable and flower seeds, fruit-trees, and some rose trees—the last they much wish for. A good breed of large fowls, in place of those light mischievous ones. China boar and sow. Books—not twopenny tracts, for they are at a discount, a large box of them being nailed up in store when I was there, while the Homilies of the Church of England hold an honourable place in the greater number of their little libraries (each family having one).
The American whaling captains, I think, charge too much in dealing with these people; they should let them have what little trade they require at but little above cost price. They are striving to make a living, and not a fortune. Whilst on the other hand, the prices for refreshment on the island are fixed, whether the crops are abundant or not. The admiral of the South American station has orders to see that the island is visited once a year by a Queen’s ship, generally bringing some trifling present of clothing and other necessaries, for which the islanders manifest much more gratitude than the value of the gift can be fairly said to deserve. Great is the rejoicing when a man-of-war arrives; the women go on board, which they do not venture with a merchantman. The men ask the captain’s advice, should anything be needed with regard to their own internal government, and are generally guided by it. The arrival of men-of-war being for the most part viá Valparaiso, the gift of the Home Government is often accompanied by an additional contribution from the Rev. Wm. Armstrong (British chaplain), who, with Mr. Turnbull and Rev. Mr. Rowlandson, is most indefatigable in their behalf.
So many colonial vessels are now calling at the island, which will not continue of long duration, on their way to California, that the real situation of these truly interesting people must soon become more publicly known; and I trust that the kind-hearted and liberal-hearted will, when an opportunity offers, bear in mind the most deserving community, I may say, any one ever chanced to see. It will be seen that, by the shipping-list in 1846, there were forty-eight vessels touched at Pitcairn’s Island But what was it in 1847?—there were seventeen, and in 1848, only nine ships. This is accounted for by the whaling vessels, by which the islanders obtained the most of their clothing and other necessaries, leaving the South Seas. Now, I wish most particularly to inform my readers, and the public generally, that such being the case, unless something is done for these worthy islanders, they will have to get clothing from some other source, or go back to their primitive tappa cloth, which would be a step backwards in civilisation. Their island, I have no doubt, will support many more than there are at present living on it; but the fast increase of population is now becoming such, that what they are able to grow they will require for themselves. Consequently, they will have none for export which will be a double privation,—first, in having nothing to trade with the shipping for clothing; and secondly, on account of having nothing to sell to the shipping. Shipping will never call there; they will then be completely out of the world, excepting being now and then visited by a British man-of-war. I can only say that, as I expect to see them, shortly, I shall be happy to receive anything for them, and lay it out in what I know they most require for their general good. All presents are sent to Mr. Nobbs, who divides them out equally among the different families. The following are medicines most required by them:—
Opium, laudanum, tartar emetic, antimonial powder, carbonate of ammonia, sulphate of zinc, sulphate of ether, sulphur, prussic acid, digitalis, Friar’s balsam, quinine, gum, camphor, ipecacuanha, Davis’s powders, jalap, blister salve, bitter aloes, asafoetida, sweet spirits of nitre, adhesive plaster. The public tooth-drawing instruments are much out of order at present.
I have now put together an account of these good people, unlike any that I have before seen or heard of, after not a few years’ rambling, having been to nearly every part of the world except the Mediterranean,—as ample in detail as could be well expected from a residence of only sixteen days. I am confident, indeed, that but little more remains to be described; for not only was I most assiduous in inquiring, from the day of landing to that of departure, but I was likewise met with a corresponding readiness on the part of the islanders, to supply the information which I required. They were evidently pleased with the interest taken in their affairs, and having nothing to conceal or to be ashamed of, were able to speak to me without any reserve. The gathering of the materials was a labour of love, and the after arrangement of them has served to beguile many hours of a voyage which would otherwise have been insufferably tedious and inconvenient.