Transcriber’s Notes
Hyphenation has been standardised.
Changes made are noted at the end of the book.
In the Text version of the Transcriber’s Notes at the end of the book,
the = around the words, e.g. =Pitcairn= indicates bold.
Footnote anchors are denoted by [number] instead of the letter A which
was used throughout the book.
The hand-drawn chapter header illustrations have been replicated as
shown in the original.
[Illustration: PITCAIRN ISLAND.]
Mutiny of the Bounty
and
Story of Pitcairn Island
1790-1894
By
Rosalind Amelia Young
A Native Daughter
_Seventh Printing_
PUBLISHED BY
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING ASSN.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CAL.
Kansas City, Mo.——Calgary, Alberta——Portland, Ore.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1894, by
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
TO
CLARA FREEMAN CROCKER,
OF AMERICA,
LAURA P. WHITE,
OF ENGLAND,
And to the many dear friends who have ever shown
an interest in the history of Pitcairn
Island, this little work is
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
by the Author.
INTRODUCTION.
Many books have been written on the history of Pitcairn Island, while
magazine articles and newspaper sketches almost without number have
appeared from time to time, treating on some feature of the island or
its history. While there are some points of disagreement between the
different writers, they have in the main given a fairly good history of
the island, and of its condition many years ago, though some of their
statements have been somewhat exaggerated. That it is inevitable that
some errors should creep into such histories may be clearly seen from
the fact that very few of the writers have ever visited the island,
while those who have done so, remained but a short time, and so could
see but one side of life on that isolated spot.
The present work is written by a native of the island, and one who has
practically spent her whole life on the island, a few years of her
childhood only having been spent on Norfolk Island. While her lifetime
does not cover quite one-half of the time covered by the history of the
island, she had access for many years to one at least who remembered
events that occurred before the beginning of the present century. The
author’s father was the second oldest man of the community at the time
of his death, in September, 1893, and was a grandson of John Adams, one
of the mutineers of the _Bounty_, whose death took place in 1829. She
has thus had the best of advantages for obtaining a correct knowledge
of the island history.
The writer of this introduction spent over eighteen months on the
island, leaving there February 9 of the present year, and, as far as
his observation goes, believes that the statements contained in this
book are strictly reliable.
The island, though but a dot on the broad Pacific, being but two and
one-quarter miles long by one and a half miles wide, is an interesting
spot, and its history reads like a romance. Its location is a favorable
one, being about two degrees south of the tropic of Capricorn, for
which reason the weather is never so intensely hot as in some of the
islands of the south seas, and is never cold. Beautiful tropical
trees,—the tall, graceful cocoanut palm, the wide-spreading banyan,
the pandanus palm, and others,—cover its surface from end to end.
Refreshing breezes, cooled and moistened by passing over thousands of
miles of ocean, constantly fan the surface of this lovely isle. It can
be truthfully said of this island that
“Every prospect pleases.”
The people who inhabit this little Eden are half castes, their dark
features and black hair plainly betraying their Tahitian blood, though
some of them have quite light complexion and blue eyes. At present
there are but about one hundred and thirty of the inhabitants. The
kindness and hospitality of this interesting people have been remarked
by all who have ever called at the island.
We believe this little book will be read with profit and delight by all
who are so fortunate as to secure a copy.
E. H. GATES.
_St. Helena, Cal., July 30, 1894._
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
The Bounty and the Mutineers 13
CHAPTER II.
The Arrival at Pitcairn 21
CHAPTER III.
The Mutineers Discovered 32
CHAPTER IV.
The Gem of the Pacific 44
CHAPTER V.
John Buffett and John Evans 54
CHAPTER VI.
George Hun Nobbs. Death of John Adams 65
CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Joshua Hill 75
CHAPTER VIII.
The Flag of Old England 86
CHAPTER IX.
The Queen’s Birthday 96
CHAPTER X.
Visit of H. M. S. _Portland_ 107
CHAPTER XI.
Removal to Norfolk Island 118
CHAPTER XII.
A Goodly Heritage 126
CHAPTER XIII.
Ho! for Pitcairn 137
CHAPTER XIV.
An Unpleasant Surprise 145
CHAPTER XV.
The Second Party Returns 156
CHAPTER XVI.
The Reception 165
CHAPTER XVII.
At Home Again 172
CHAPTER XVIII.
Wreck of the _Cornwallis_ 188
CHAPTER XIX.
Visit of Rear-Admiral de Horsey 201
CHAPTER XX.
Friendly Visits 215
CHAPTER XXI.
The Wreck of the _Oregon_ 224
CHAPTER XXII.
Arrival of Mr. John I. Tay 229
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Missionary Ship _Pitcairn_ 237
APPENDIX 255
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Pitcairn Island Frontispiece
Fletcher Christian’s Birthplace 17
Lieut. Bligh’s Gourd, Cup, Bullet Weight, and Book 20
The Landing Place,—Bounty Bay 27
Bounty Bay from the Cliffs 37
Thursday October Christian 42
Path through Cocoanut Grove 47
Figures Cut in the Rocks at the Rope 49
Morinda Citrifolia 51
The Chapel 57
Group of Island Maidens 62
Rosa, William, John, and Sarah Young 69
Pitcairn Avenue 79
Group of Native Men 89
The Island Sawmill 99
Parliament of Pitcairn Island 109
Group of Native Children 123
The _Pitcairn_ and Man-of-War off Pitcairn Island 129
Family Group of Natives 138
Breadfruit 148
Children and Wheelbarrow 152
Point Lookout 156
Group of Young Men 160
Simon Young and Wife 175
The Mission House 193
Group of Women and Children 207
Girls in Bathing Costume 217
Hattie Andre’s Class 231
Rosa Young’s Class 245
[Illustration]
CHAPTER I.
The Bounty and the Mutineers
TOWARD the close of the eighteenth century, at a time when events
producing the most important results were occurring among some of
the nations of the earth, there was being laid, unconsciously, the
foundation of a history which in all its points could equal, if not
surpass, any tale of fiction.
During the reign of King George Third, of England, the English
Government considered it advisable to introduce, if possible, the
breadfruit into her colonies in the West Indies, and for this purpose
a ship was specially fitted out and provisioned. A small sloop-of-war,
named the _Bounty_, was the one provided, and her internal arrangements
were begun and completed with the view of transferring, with the least
possible injury, the tender plants from their native soil.
On the twenty-ninth day of December, 1787, the _Bounty_ left England,
under orders to proceed to the Society Islands, for the purpose of
procuring plants of the breadfruit tree, to be conveyed to the West
Indies. Lieutenant William Bligh was appointed commander, and about
forty-five persons, including a gardener, made up the crew. Provisions
for eighteen months were put on board.
The different feelings that possessed the minds of the men who were
leaving behind them what they held most sacred and dear on earth, may
be imagined; yet were they doubtless cheered by the thought of one
day meeting again the dear friends at home, when the long separation
was ended. But for the ship, and for some of the crew, it was never
to be, and could the results of that voyage have been foreseen, it is
a question how many of those who then left their native land would
have dared to embark on a journey that was to be fraught with events
so startling in their nature, and that was to end so strangely, that
even at this distant day the story is repeated and listened to with
sustained interest, not only by strangers, but by the immediate
descendants of the misguided men, who themselves fell victims at last
to their own wrongdoing.
The voyage out was safely accomplished, the _Bounty_ having arrived at
Tahiti in the month of October, the year following her departure from
England. Six months were spent at the island collecting and stowing
away the plants, the crew in the meanwhile becoming very friendly with
the natives. A violent storm threatening, Captain Bligh deemed it
prudent to leave. This was in April, 1789.
Leaving Tahiti, the _Bounty_ went on to Anamooka, where Captain Bligh
took in water, fruits, goats, and other live stock, and put to sea
again on the 26th of the same month. It was after leaving the last
mentioned island that some dissatisfaction was first noticed among
the crew. Hitherto, if there had been cause for complaint respecting
the captain’s treatment of those he commanded, it had not been openly
manifested. It has now become matter of history that William Bligh
possessed a tyrannical temper, and frequently had misunderstandings
with his officers and men. This, and the fact that many of the crew had
formed intimate acquaintance with the people of the islands, doubtless
caused them to conceive the plan of seizing the ship, after having
disposed of the officers.
Shortly before the mutiny broke out, one of the men, Fletcher Christian
(master’s mate), incurred the captain’s severe displeasure. It is
said that through the advice of a young officer who perished in the
_Pandora_, Christian first formed the design of mutiny, which was
so effectually carried out. Be that as it may, the night of the
28th of April, 1789, witnessed the outbreak on board the _Bounty_,
as the mutinous crew rose in arms against their captain. Fletcher
Christian, aided by three other men, secured the person of Captain
Bligh. They entered his cabin, and dragged him from his bed. Being soon
overpowered, his hands were pinioned behind him, thus rendering him
helpless in the hands of his captors.
A boat had been made ready to receive the unfortunate Bligh and
those of his companions who were to share his fate, but the share
of provisions allowed them was very small. Owing to the smallness of
the size of the boat, only eighteen men besides the captain ventured
to trust their lives in it. Others would gladly have accompanied the
eighteen, but there was no possibility of obtaining room in the boat,
already too full, and their only alternative was to remain in the ship
with their misguided companions. The boat containing the unfortunate
men being cut adrift was soon headed for the island of Tofoa, about
thirty miles distant, where a landing was effected. The natives there
showed a decidedly hostile spirit, and when made aware of the presence
of the white men, they rushed down to the beach, shooting arrows and
hurling stones at the intruders. A man named John Norton was killed.
The other eighteen hastened to get beyond the reach of their pursuers
and their arrows. Then commenced a voyage attended with so much
hardship and misery in the exposed condition of the voyagers that
even to this day it commands the admiration and excites the wonder
of all who hear. Going over the vast distance of upwards of twelve
hundred leagues, encountering every kind of weather, enduring dreadful
sufferings, hunger, and thirst, these men at last reached the island of
Timor, where was a Dutch settlement. Here they were shown the greatest
hospitality and kindness by the governor. Leaving Timor, they went to
Batavia, where Bligh and some of his officers took passage on a vessel
bound for Europe. They eventually reached England in safety.
[Illustration: MOORLAND CLOSE, CUMBERLAND, THE BIRTHPLACE OF FLETCHER
CHRISTIAN.]
No time was lost in acquainting the English Government with the
disastrous failure of the _Bounty’s_ mission, and, although there were
some among the crew who, at the time of the mutiny, pleaded that no
blame should be attached to them, the result showed that Bligh did not
spare those whose hearts and hands were alike innocent of any wrong
against him. Very soon the _Pandora_, commanded by Captain Edwards, a
man devoid of the humane feelings of kindness and pity, was sent in
search of the men who had so willfully forgotten their duty. Of these
only fourteen were found, eight having accompanied Fletcher Christian,
with the _Bounty_, and two of their number having been killed by
the natives of Tahiti some little while before. These poor men were
conveyed in irons on board the _Pandora_, where they were placed in a
close room, with one small opening to admit light and air. Chained to
the floor, exposed to the most cruel treatment that the mind of the
inhuman Edwards could conceive, enduring the heaviest privations, and
compelled to live in their noisome den from day-to-day without any
means of having it cleansed, the condition of these sufferers can more
readily be imagined than described.
In this cruel position they were forced to exist; and when at last the
_Pandora_ was wrecked on a coral reef, the unfeeling Edwards would not
listen to the piteous pleadings of the prisoners and release them, even
to afford what help they might be able to render in trying to save
the ship. One sailor, however, possessed of humane feelings, would
not willingly let so many of his fellow-creatures perish thus before
his eyes, and, exerting all his strength, succeeded in accomplishing
their release, but not until four of them had perished. On board the
ship that finally conveyed them to England, they were treated as human
beings, and allowed freedom from their chains. Of these ten men “four
were acquitted; one was discharged on account of an informality in
the indictment; the other five were found guilty and were condemned
to death. Of these two received a pardon, and the three others were
executed at Spithead,” from which place they had sailed on their
eventful voyage four years before.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]