Revised Jun 19 2021
The interest taken by the reader of the following narrative, will be enhanced by the fact that its author has resided more than a score of years upon this far famed Island of the South Seas; this circumstance, we trust, will be an ample apology for adding another to the many accounts already published respecting the Pitcairnians. Mr. Buffett was induced to write this account, principally from the following circumstance. The Editor of the Friend, some months since, received a new publication from the United States, entitled, "Alleck, or the Last of the Mutineers." It is an interesting historical sketch of Pitcairn's Island and its inhabitants. The volume was forwarded by the author and accompanied by the request, to procure and forward any information we might obtain respecting the people now residing upon the Island.
On the reception of the letter containing the foregoing request, we applied to Mr. Buffett, then residing in Honolulu, and with whom we had held long and repeated conversations respecting his island home. We might here state that his object in visiting the Sandwich Islands, was to procure a passage direct to England, inasmuch as he was extremely desirous to visit once more the shores of his native land. After remaining here a few months, sufficiently long to procure the respect and esteem of all with whom he became acquainted, not being able to meet with a favorable opportunity to embark for England, he decided to return to his family and home and probably never more to leave them. Before embarking in the Am. whale ship Hannibal, he placed the following narrative in our hands, to be disposed of as we might think best. Thinking its perusal might not be uninteresting to many of our readers, and that our American correspondent would be as much gratified i reading it published in the columns of the Friend, as when in a manuscript form, we therefore commence its publication. It may be expected to appear in about six successive numbers.
Honolulu, Dec. 1845.