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its situation. It was no doubt from reading this description that 

 Christian came to fix upon the island as a last retreat for himself and his 

 followers. It is only five or six miles in diameter ; the shores are 

 bastioned by huge rocks, one of which towers to the height of a thousand 

 feet; but they enclose rich and beautiful valleys clothed in forests of 

 palms. Here the "Bounty" discharged her freight on the 23rd of 

 January, 1790, after which she was burned, so as to leave no traces that 

 might lead to discovery. Christian then divided the island into nine 

 equal portions between himself and the other mutineers, each of whom 

 took a wife from the Otaheitan women, Avhilst the rest of the Otaheitans 

 they had brought with them acted as servants, or slaves. Adams informed 

 Captain Beechey that Christian's cheerful example was of the greatest 

 service in reconciling his companions to their lot, and that his happy 

 and ingenious disposition always secured him their respect and good-will. 

 But the opportunity now given him for quiet reflection, after the turmoil 

 and excitement of his life at sea, gradually led him into a mood of serious 

 meditation, which lessened the sympathy between himself and the coarser, 

 or lighter, natures around him. He sought out a cave on an almost 

 inaccessible part of the coast, where he often spent whole days in solitude, 

 except for the chosen companionship of his Bible and Prayer-book. Let 

 us hope that he found more comfort in their contents than he was likely 

 to derive from his own thoughts. As he gazed upon the waste of waters 

 which probably for ever separated him from his native land, one may 

 conceive, as has been said, that he felt like Cain, both as to the mode 

 and the measure of his punishment. But however much Christian 

 abstracted himself from the uncongenial society of the island, and 

 abandoned himself to moods of lonely contemplation and contrition, he 

 was never unmindful of the duties he owed to his neighbours and to his 

 own household. Adams always assured his visitors that Christian 

 preserved a good influence upon all his companions, and that amongst 

 other things he induced them to join him in public worship. 



One anecdote related by Captain Beechey affords a touching proof 

 of Christian's care for his family. When Thursday October Christian 

 was invited to join the Captain at luncheon he would not begin the meal 



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