BOUNTY MEMORIES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3374, 6 October 1931, Page 3

BOUNTY MEMORIES

PEOPLE OF PITCAIRN. THE ISLANDERS TO-DAY. Celebrations such as the inhabitants of Norfolk Island had not seen for many years were carried out on June 8, the occasion being the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders on the island. In 1850 all the inhabitants of Pitcairn Island emigrated to Norfolk Island 'on account of the scarcity .of water on their own island, and the rapidly increasing number of their people. For many years after their arrival the islanders made a special celebration of the event, and staged a pageant which embodies the outstanding incidents of the famous mutiny of the Bounty, in which their forefathers participated. The custom was dropped for several years, and those interested in the things of the past had to be content with stories told by the elders of the community. This year, however, the islanders re-enacted the historical event. The quarter deck of -the Bounty was reconstructed, and was walked by Captain Bligh and his first lieutenant, Fletcher Christian. It was under Christian’s direction that the mutiny was carried out 150 years ago. No one took part in the pageant who was not an actual descendant of one of the mutineers. Some of those who emigrated to Norfolk Island later returned to Pitcairn and re-established their homes there. The pefople who are living there now are the descendants of those who returned.

This was the first separation effected between people who for 60 years had been living together like one big family, sharing each other’s joys and sorrows.

“Fine Race of People.*’

Captain E. H. Willson, who arrived in Wellington last week after several weeks spent on Pitcairn Island, related some interesting facts concerning the islanders to an Evening Post representative. Practically the sole occupation of the inhabitants, he said, was the growing of crops. Most of the agricultural woi’k was done on the higher part of the island, where there was a large expanse of undulating ground with excellent soil. The outdoor employments of both men and women resulted in great muscular development, and rendered them capable of enduring a vast amount of manual labour. “Taking them all round they are very fine people, and most hospitable,” said Captain Willson. “They will give you the best they have on the Island. Nothing is too good for visitors, and nothing is too much trouble for them. There have been many cases of people from the mainland who, after visiting the island, have gone away with the impression that the islanders are-, an ignorant race of people. They judge them from their own outlook on life, forgetting that Pitcairn is just a small dot of land in a large expanse of ocean and far removed from civilisation. They should not expect that a person living in such surroundings should be on the same plane, for example, as a person from New Zealand or Australia. Physically, morally and mentally they are wonderful people, which is remarkable when one takes into consideration the conditions under which they live, and under which they have lived for a great number of years.” Captain Willson said that some years ago two whalers named Coffin and Clark took up their abode on the island and married two of the islanders. The life appealed to them and they worked together on the island until a few years ago, when Coffin died. Also on . the island at the present time was Mr. Coos, a

dentist. With his wife and family Mr. Coos left Gisborne some time ago to set up a dental practice on the island. His practice, however, washiot very prosperous, said Captain Willson, as the islanders extracted their own teeth when occasion arose.