LIFE ON PITCAIRN ISLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

LIFE ON PITCAIRN ISLAND

A LONELY PEOPLE GROWN-UP CHILDREN Very few ships call at Pitcairn, which being nearly 3000 miles east of Auckland is off the direct route to Panama (or' anywliere!), and these only when weather permits and the call may be made in daylight. Of volcanic origin, it is about two miles long and a mil<? wide, rising steeply to 1000 feet without a good beach or landing place. The 165 people who live there have a romantic history. Tney are descendants of nine of tho Bounty mutineers who, led by Fletcher Christian, with native wives from Tahiti and six native men, three with wives, took the Bounty to tho uninhabited island of Pitcairn, and Burning her, lived undiscovered for 20 years. A passing vessel found them eventually and the island was annexed ! to Britain. The settlement is at Adamstown and consists of a few scattered dwellings, with hero and there patches of dark green—tho paw-paw, banana _ and orange trees, whoso delicious fruit is usually sampled by the passengers of ships calling at the island. Tho people have been described as " the best' sailors in the world," and indeed the dangerously overloaded boats which go out to any visiting ship are always managed with great skill. Men, women and children, laden with fruit and curion in native-made baskets, climb up tho iihip's side like monkeys, eager to greet the passengers. A brisk exchange of goods then takes place, hats, dresses, imitation jewellery, scissors, handbags and suchlike, being accepted for fruit, walking sticks df coconut and orange woods, model sailing ships and baskets without ftumberv? Tho islanders are a good-looking lot; tall, straight and lean, with skins varying from pale olive to dark brown; and eyes and hair mostly black; though here and there mav be seen a head of and clear blue eyes, which tells of European origin. They speak good English with soft, well-modulated voices, and their smiling good humour and charming manners win all hearts. The men are dressed in cotton singlets or shirts and dungaree trousers; the women in cotton frocks of pinafore style. One sees no stockings and very few shoes, all wear native-made raffia hats, except ono or two who, claim proudly that their hats come from Panama—the Paris of Pitcairn —but nearly 4000 miles away I What can be the future of these grown-up children of Pitcairn, with so little stimulus to mental activity, or scope for talent of any kind? They cannot stand still. Must they go backward —and how far? ,