Revised Jun 12 2021
In that year the state of the island had become so intolerable to the women, that they resolved to brave the perils of the sea, rather than remain. They had accordingly prepared to set off secretly in a boat, which, fortunately for them, was swamped. Indeed, the men who had built it probably intended it should upset as soon as it was launched; though they had, as a pretence, instructed the females how to steer, and had appointed one of them "the Captain." On the issue of this project, the Island Register has the following comment: "Had they launched out upon the ocean, whither could they have gone, or what would a few ignorant women have done by themselves, drifting upon the waves, but ultimately have fallen a sacrifice to their folly?" Thus ended the visionary voyage of the females, who, foiled in their attempt to get away, again settled down in their sad and unwelcome home, Whither they had proposed to go, it is impossible to say. The nearest island to Pitcairn, about ninety miles to its north, is Oeno, of coral formation, a barren place, most difficult of access. The approach is so bad, owing to the reefs of coral encompassing the lagoon which surrounds the island, that when Beechey, in December, 1825, attempted to land, the boat was broken to pieces. Lieutenant Belcher narrowly escaped with his life, and a young lad of the party was drowned.
There is also, about 120 miles from Pitcairn, Elizabeth, or Henderson's Island, so called after Captain Henderson, of the Hercules, of Calcutta. It is nearly eighty feet above the level of the sea, five miles in length, one mile in breadth, of volcanic formation, and covered with dead coral. The soil is poor and sandy. There are many trees and shrubs on the island, and it has been occasionally visited by the Pitcairn people, chiefly for the sake of the timber found there On the occasion of their visit in 1851, they discovered eight human skeletons lying in caves; probably the remains of some shipwrecked mariners, who, unable to procure food or water, had lain down to die. Several pieces of wreck were found on the shore.
To return to 1794. Trouble followed trouble. The women, in the same year in which they had endeavoured to quit Pitcairn, deliberately planned the destruction of the four white men left among them. This dreadful plot was discovered in time by the men; and a partial and suspicious peace was brought about.