PITCAIRN ISLAND. 239 
tians and ten women, whom they had enticed 
to accompany them. After a search of some 
weeks in those seas, they accidentally lighted 
upon Pitcairn Island, discovered by Carteret in 
the year 1767. Its extent is inconsiderable, 
but they found it uninhabited, and the soil fruit- 
ful, although high and rocky. Christian and 
his companions examined it closely, and, charmed 
with its luxuriant vegetation, resolved here to 
conceal themselves for ever from the world, 
hoping by this means to escape the punishment 
they so well merited. 
All their endeavours to discover a harbour 
capable of admitting the Bounty, proving fruit- 
less, they determined to place themselves under 
the lee of the island, save the cargo, and then 
destroy the ship, lest its appearance might betray 
them to vessels passing by. 
This resolution was carried into effect, the 
cargo was brought quickly ashore, and the ship 
burnt. 
At first the colony suffered from a scarcity of 
provisions, as the island produced neither bread- 
fruit nor cocoa-trees; they, however, contented 
