PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 118, 9 April 1853, Page 10

PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

We published in September last, a diary of a visit to this island, which was placed in our hands by its author. The Mr. Nobbs there spoken of, the " G-rammaticus, Rhetor, Geometres, Pietor, Aliptes, • Augur, Sclicenobates, Medicus, Magus, &c," has arrived in England, where his presence has created considerable . sensation. He has been ordained jand formally admitted into the Episcopal Church, and intends returning to an island over whose inhabitants he has presided as Pastor and Teacher for twenty-five years. The following particulars respecting the present state of Pitcairn appear in the English Papers : — " Mr. Nobbs is bearer of despatches from Admiral Morseby, in the Pacific Ocean, and his objept in coming to England is to obtain some assistance for the religious education of the people of Pitcairn's Island, and to induce the Government to allow English ships of war to visit the Island oftener than they now do. The individual alluded to is about sixty years of age, and about twenty-five years ago visited Pitcairn, and was allowed to remain on the island as a religious teacher and to practise medicine. He is almost the only stranger ever allowed to remain at Pitcairn, and to be considered as one of the community. The inhabitants of the island in question numbered, when be" left, 86 females and 88 males, who are nearly all descended of the " Bounty" mutineers; and the Tahitan women. They are still remarkable for their moral and religious character, chiefly through the teaching and example of Adams, the chief mutineer. A President of the community is elected every year, but he has little to do. There is no penal code, for the whole community live as one family; and, having no money, and prohibiting strong drinks, there is no temptation or inducement to crime. All the land is held in common, andno one is allowed to trade for himself. The coin in the island amounts to about eighteen dollars' value. If every waste spot were cultivated, Pitcairn, which is about four and a half miles in circumference, would maintain about five hundred persons. The climate is good. The thermometer never rises to above 86 degrees, nor falls below fiftyfive. The men and boys all bear arms, anc they could defend the approaches to the island against a thousand fighting men. No ship can approach without a pilot. The inhabitants are not so robust as the English, nor do they live so long. They subsist chiefly on yams, potatoes, and cocoa nuts. Once a week they taste fish or flesh, which they obtain by fishing anrt killing the goats on the island. They chewana smoke tobacco, which they obtain from American whalers which visit them for supplies o fresh water, yams, and potatoes. The islaw would grow India corn and tobacco, but neitnei of these is cultivated, because it would impo*'?" risb the ground. Tobacco grows wild, but it i* rooted up as a weed. There are no springy and the water obtained is rain-water, which i .caught in reservoirs. An English ship of wa ' calls at the island about once a year. A »un^ ber of American whalers visit it, and tln'o«B' them the inhabitants get supplies to satisfy t»e simple wants, and learn the news of the wo'I,' They seldom suffer any stranger to live on t& island. If any are shipwrecked there, they ai taken care of till the next vessel calls, wiv they are sent away. Almost the first YeV cl* the Pitcairn inhabitant met, was a n t tieman whose cousin bad been shipwrecked « Pitcairn, had lived there a fortnight, 'an". > well remembered by the inhabitant. Mr.;. (] has left a wife and eleven children at Pitcai

He has been elected President of the. island*! more than once. His business in England will" chiefly be with the Duke of Northumberland and the Bishop of London. His presence here will be the means of revealing some particulars of one of the most curious and interesting'episodes in the history of human society."