244, POPULATION OF THE ISLAND. 
The young man who had first mounted the 
vessel, saluted the Captain with the greatest 
propriety, and enquired whether he had known 
in England a man of the name of William 
Bligh. This suddenly threw a light on the 
mystery of the Pitcairn islanders; and they 
were in return asked if there was a man on 
the island named Christian. The answer was 
“* No, he has been long dead, but his son is in 
the boat which is coming alongside.” This 
placed the origin of the colony beyond all doubt. 
The crew of the Breton were further in- 
formed, that the whole population of the island 
consisted of forty-eight persons— that the 
men were not allowed to marry before their 
twentieth year, and must only have one wife— 
that Adams had instructed them in the Chris- 
tian religion-—that their general language was 
English, but that they also understood the 
Tahaitian, and that they acknowledged the 
King of England as their sovereign. On being 
asked if they did not wish to go to England 
with the frigate, they answered “ No: we are 
married and have children.” 
