THE PITCAIRN ISLAND. 
> 
I pip not myself touch on this island, but I 
met in Chili an American Captain just return- 
ed from it, and in Tahaiti one of the earliest 
mothers of its population, who spoke English 
well enough to carry on a conversation. The 
information jointly obtained from both these 
persons, will not, I think, be unwelcome to my 
readers ; and those who are unacquainted with 
the rise of this interesting colony, will perhaps 
find pleasure in a brief account of it. 
The English government appreciating the 
usefulness of the bread-fruit tree, and desirous 
of introducing it into the West-Indian colo- 
nies, in the year 1787, commissioned the ship 
Bounty, under the command of Lieutenant 
