THE FLAG OF OLD ENGLAND
AFTER Mr. Hill’s removal, Mr. Nobbs, with the hearty consent of nearly
all the people, assumed sole charge as pastor and schoolmaster. Under
his benign rule peace once more reigned, and the former brotherliness
between the families, that had been so fully established under John
Adams, was once more as fully resumed. While Mr. Nobbs devoted himself
to the higher needs of the people, combining with his other duties
those of a physician (to the best of his ability), Buffett had resumed
his old trade of cabinet work, which he confined to such articles as
workboxes, writing desks, and chests of drawers of all sizes. The wood
of the _mero_ tree, which the soil of the island abundantly produced,
supplied all the material needed in the darker shades. The timber is
exceedingly close grained and hard, and when fully matured becomes
changed in color from dark red to almost black, and takes polish
beautifully. The bright yellow color of the wood of the white-flower
tree was used for ornamenting, as it forms a pretty contrast with the
other. Buffett also instructed those among the young men who showed any
inclination to learn, and was highly gratified at seeing them display
decided skill in the handiwork. John Evans, also, who wished to try his
hand at the trade, came with the others to take lessons in practical
work, and succeeded fairly well in the business.
Buffett, who was fond of a joke, used to relate how one day, when he
was at work in his house, Evans came to him, bringing an unfinished
workbox that he was making, in his hand. Setting the box down, he
turned to Buffett, and began telling him how his work was almost a
failure, and was likely to come to grief unless he obtained some much
needed help from the master hand. “In fact, Buffett,” he said, “I
just came over to ask you to give it a licking.” As soon as Evans had
finished speaking, Buffett, without a word, took up the workbox, and,
rapidly passing his tongue over its smooth surface, set it down again,
saying, with a hearty laugh, “There is your box; I have given it a
licking.” Astonished beyond expression, and indignant at having his
request so literally fulfilled, Evans angrily snatched up the innocent
cause of the joke, and was hastening away, when Buffett good-humoredly
assured him that no offense was intended, and he was at length
prevailed on, though reluctantly, to calm his ruffled feelings, and
wait a few minutes until Buffett had given the necessary help he asked
for.
While Nobbs gave instruction to the children in the schoolroom, Buffett
proposed to establish a class for young men, to give them instruction
in navigation and the more advanced branches of arithmetic, and, in
addition to these, studies upon such subjects of general information
as they could obtain through the medium of books, though of these they
had only a very limited supply. The more thoughtful among the young
men eagerly availed themselves of even this chance of improvement, and
organized themselves into a band, with Buffett at their head, who gave
the name “Mutual Improvement Society” to their class. While it lasted,
it was well attended, and most, if not all, of the members derived
lasting benefit therefrom.
While Nobbs and Buffett were engaged in pursuits so congenial to them,
the necessary cultivation of their allotments of land was performed by
their wives and children, and whoever of their neighbors that would
willingly assist. They themselves did but a trifling portion of the
work. Evans, on the other hand, seemed to possess a natural liking for
the soil and its cultivation, in which work he was aided by his strong
and healthy wife.
It was now forty-seven years since the island had been settled, and
in all that time no rules had been enacted for the government of the
people. Conscience sometimes, and more frequently inclination, ruled
them. But this state of things was about to be ended.
[Illustration: GROUP OF NATIVE MEN.]
In the year 1838 Her Majesty’s ship _Fly_ came on a visit, and for the
first time, to the evident satisfaction and pleasure of the islanders,
the flag of Old England was hoisted on Pitcairn Island, Captain Elliott
observing, “You are now under the protection of the English flag.” From
that time until the entire community was removed to Norfolk Island,
they were annually visited by one or more of Her Majesty’s ships of war.
Captain Elliott also strongly advised the people to have written laws
by which they might be governed, and, further, to appoint a magistrate
from among themselves to enforce those laws. Mr. Hill had also spoken
strongly about the necessity and importance of such a step being
taken, but his advice had not been acted upon. The captain’s proposal
was received differently, everybody being willing to carry out any
plans that he thought would be best for them. Their unanimous choice
fell upon the youngest son of Quintall, whose strong common sense and
really excellent abilities recommended him as the fittest person to be
nominated. When Hill first came among the people, Quintall attracted
his particular notice, and Hill constituted him his chief elder. The
two men possessed many similar traits of character, and on no point
were they more agreed than in the intense dislike to the three other
Englishmen. That Quintall could be a staunch friend was proved by the
fact that he stood by Hill to the last, when everyone else had deserted
him. In after years the intermarriages that took place between his own
children and those of Nobbs and Buffett were evident proofs that they
did not share their father’s prejudices.
Like Hill, he, too, when aroused by anger, was capable of committing
deeds of cruelty, as the following story will show. Engaged in a
dispute one day with John Evans, both men lost control over themselves,
and began to abuse one another. The quarrel increased, and Quintall,
being a powerful man, brought it to a termination by lifting Evans, who
was small, as easily as he would a child, and throwing him violently
into a pigsty, thereby causing him serious injury. This wicked act was
recorded in the register of those times, for it was customary to enter
therein every occurrence, however trivial, and whenever a case occurred
which could not be satisfactorily adjusted by the local authorities, it
was usual to postpone it until the arrival of a ship of war, to whose
captain the matter was referred for decision. It was so in this case,
but the fact that the perpetrator of the deed was at the time laid on
his sick bed, from which he never again arose, prevented his receiving
his just deserts, and so the passing of the sentence awaited a higher
tribunal than that of earth.
A more pleasing theme than the story just related was the arrival of
the first missionary vessel that ever called at the island. This was
the _Camden_, which was sent out by the London Missionary Society. In
her missionary visits to the various islands of the Pacific, she made
a brief call at Pitcairn Island, having but one missionary on board,
a Mr. Heath. The _Camden’s_ stay extended only to four days, during
which time Mr. Heath gave two public addresses, and held several
meetings in Mr. Nobbs’ house. Captain Morgan, who commanded the vessel,
also delivered an impressive discourse from the text, “My son, give me
thine heart.” A good supply of Bibles was left on the island, enough
for each family to have one. Captain Morgan also sent out from England,
on his arrival there, a box of books, schoolbooks as well as religious
publications, and slates and pencils for the use of the school. These
were all thankfully received, as they supplied a very pressing want,
especially the last-named gifts.
In the year 1841 Christian’s widow died. Her name, given by the
Englishmen, was Isabella, but as Christian himself had dubbed her
“Mainmast,” this latter name was the one by which she was exclusively
called, only it was abbreviated to “Mai’mas’.” She was of very advanced
age when she died, but to the last retained vivid recollections of the
events of earlier years, and used often to relate to her attentive
listeners the story of Captain Cook’s visit to the Society Islands.
Once when he was in Tahiti he was suffering from a severe attack of
rheumatism. Some of the Tahitian women took him in hand, and effected a
cure by means of the native remedy. This consisted of a preparation of
the _a’pi-plant_ (_arum gigantum_) which was externally applied to the
part or parts affected. The painful, stinging properties of the plant
(compared to which the sting of the nettle is almost enjoyable) would
seem to lead one to decide in favor of the rheumatism, as this remedy
seems certainly worse than the disease. But Mainmast declared that the
dreadful remedy cured Captain Cook. This old woman’s death left but one
more remaining of the original party that came in the _Bounty_, thus
severing, link by link, the tie that bound the younger portion of the
community to those who originally settled the colony.
Scarcely anything occurred to disturb the tranquil round of life that
the inhabitants enjoyed, and day after day passed along in quiet
monotony, broken only by the arrival of some passing ship. The “event”
of every year was the visit of a man-of-war.
About the year 1847 an accident befell Mr. Nobbs’ eldest son, which
nearly proved fatal. He, in company with some other young men, had one
day gone out to hunt goats. As they were returning home, Reuben Nobbs
slipped and fell. The loaded gun he carried was instantly discharged,
most of its contents being lodged in his right hip, while the ball
passed entirely through. He was brought home, and his father attended
him. Month after month passed, and, although he did not grow worse
there still was no perceptible improvement. When the next man-of-war
came, the _Spy_, her surgeon examined the wound, and, probing it,
extracted large pieces of wadding, the presence of which had prevented
recovery. After that the cure was rapid, and the young man was soon
able to walk with the help of a crutch. But the result was a lameness
that unfitted him for such work as life on the island required, and,
as he had good business abilities, his father, who had friends in
Valparaiso, wrote to them asking if they would kindly obtain for his
son some means of gaining a living. The answer was favorable, and in
due time Reuben Nobbs arrived at Valparaiso, to begin his duties as
clerk in a commercial establishment. He was cordially received, and,
by a diligent application to work, and the determination to please
his employers, he succeeded not only in learning to do that which
was required of him, but also in giving entire satisfaction to his
employers during his whole stay.
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