TWO PITCAIRN ISLANDERS

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 242, 10 October 1916, Page 7

TWO PITCAIRN ISLANDERS

VISIT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. AND SHAKE HASDS WITH THE X.ING. Among the crew of the steamship TuraKina, at present in Auckland, are two Pitcairii islanders, descendants of the mutineers of tlie Bounty, who, tiring of the monotony of existence on the island, set out to see the world. Opportunity came along in the form oi the yacht Wave, which was searching the seas and its islands for curios for the British -Museum. The two men, named Edwin and Charles Voting respectively, joined the yacht iv July iast, and have had an interesting cruise since then. From Piteairn Island they went to Tahiti, thence to tbe Hawaiian Islands and San Francisco, and from there to some of the islands in the Mexican Gulf, Balboa, and the West Indies. Finally, they arrived at Southampton, and, after discharging cargo, were taken to London by the owner of tlie yacht and his wife. The visit to London, said one of the brothers to a representative of the "Star" this morning, .will always be remembered by us. not so much because of what we saw, but because we had the honour of visiting Buckingham Palace and shaking hands with Their Majesties the King and Queen. Their Majesties were deeply interested in the life of the two islanders, and made a number of inquiries regarding conditions on the island. Asked for his impression of London, the speaker replied laconically that "it was a line place." After spending two and a-half months in Englana room was found for the two men on the Turakina, one as a deck-hand, and the other as an assistant steward. They will be discharged at Wellington, and from there hope to get back to the island by taking boat first to Tahiti.