Revised Jun 22 2021
"1848, March 9th.—Arrived H. M. S. Calypso, aptain H. Worth>
"10th.—At 9 A.M. Captain Worth, and a party of officers, landed; and the greeting on both sides was most cordial. Our people, men, women, and children, are almost beside themselves."
Many valuable and useful presents were brought to the island. The next day the ship was discovered four miles from the land. Captain Worth, Dr. Domet, and others, again landed. The Doctor, wishing to inspect the hieroglyphics carved by the aborigines, went down the face of the cliff without the assistance of a rope—a most hazardous feat. It is stated that he was the first European who had performed it.
"At sunset the Calypso sailed, carrying with her our grateful aspirations, &c.
"1849, July 10th." A very animated description is given, under this date, of the arrival of "the Pandora , Captain Wood, from Oahu and Tahiti, bringing us Mr. Buffett back, who left us for the Sandwich Islands last summer.
"July 11th.—This evening Captain Wood left us, to our great regret; for although our acquaintance was of but two days' duration, the urbanity of Captain Wood, and his solicitude foi our welfare, have made a deep and, we hope, a lasting impression on our hearts. That the good ship Pandora, and all her gallant crew, may escape the perils of the deep, and, before many months have elapsed, show her number some early day at Spithead, is the wish of their friends residing on the rock of the West.
"Aug. 9th.—The inhabitants are slowly recovering from the epidemic which has pervaded the island during the last month. So general was the attack, that the public school has been discontinued, and public service but once performed on each Sabbath, in consequence; the teacher being fully employed attending the sick.
"11th.—Arrived, H.M.S. Daphne, Captain Fanshawe, from Valparaiso, via Callao, bringing the desiderata of the community, viz. a bull, cow, and some rabbits. They were landed without any difficulty by our own boats. We also received from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong several boxes of acceptable articles, and a large case of books from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. At 3 P.M. Captain Fanshawe and a party of the officers landed. At sunset they returned on board again, except the surgeon, who remained on shore, at the particular request of Mr. Nobbs, who required some advice about the sick,
"12th.—at 1 P.M. Captain Fanshawe returned on shore, with a fresh party of officers, and attended divine service. Much persuasion was used by our young people to induce Captain F. to remain another day, but he told them he could not do so with propriety. At sunset they all returned on board, and H.M.S. Daphne sailed for Tahiti. Captain F. (as well as his officers) treated those of our people who went on board most kindly, and made most minute inquiries into our wants and actual condition. They were pleased to express their satisfaction at what they saw and heard, and left us deeply impressed with their courtesy and urbanity. May Almighty God have them in his holy keeping!
"Sept. 6th.—A large hair seal captured on the west side of the island. Fletcher Christian first discovered it among the rocks, and was much alarmed at the sight of it. He feared to go near it, lest it should be a ghost (of which he has a great horror), or some beast of prey, but quickly ascended the hill which overlooks the town, and gave the alarm. Some persons went over to his assistance, and shot the animal just as it was making its retreat into the sea.
"20th.—This day we set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. Public service commenced at 11 A.M. and ended at 1 P.M. All who could get to church attended. Text, Romans ii. 4, 5. One of the females fainted during service."
"This year is unprecedented in the annals of Pitcairn's Island. We have been visited by two British men-of-war the Pandora, Captain Wood, and the Daphne, Captain Fanshawe. The commanders of these ships, and their officers, treated the inhabitants with the greatest kindness, and were pleased to express their entire approval of all they saw and heard. The Daphne brought us a bull and a cow, and some rabbits, with a variety of other articles, from the Rev. Mr. Armstrong and other friends in Valparaiso. The cattle and the rabbits produced a great sensation. Another (to us) wonderful occurrence is, the arrival of so many other ships under English colours, viz. eight from the Australian colonies, bound for California, and one whaling vessel from London; in all, nine merchantmen, and two ships of war. American ships have dwindled down to six whalers and one from California; in her Reuben E. Nobbs embarked for Valparaiso.
"George Adams saved the life of a child alongside of a ship in the offing,
"The inhabitants, with scarcely one exception, have suffered from sickness very severely during the months of August, September, and October. The school was discontinued, the children being too sick to attend, and the teacher was fully (and, thank God! efficiently) employed in ministering from house to house. Some of the cases were quite alarming, and the disease (the influenza) in general was more severe, but considerably modified from that of former years: violent spasms in the stomach and epigastric region were frequent in all stages of the complaint. At the close of the year, the inhabitants are enjoying much better health. May the recent affliction teach us so to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!