leader of the mutiny, eight other Englishmen, six Polynesian men and twelve 

 Polynesian women embarked on board the "Bounty" and, after cruising about the 

 Paumotuas, took possession of Pitcairn on the outskirts of that archipelago. 

 This island is a mountainous, volcanic uplift areasbout two square miles, with 

 several fertile valleys. Here this curious colony, having burned the "Bounty", 

 seems to have disappeared from the sight and knowledge of man. By the year 

 1800 all but one Englishman - Alexander Smith, who assumed the name of John 

 Adams - had died. He appears to have been one of the few colonists to pre- 

 serve a sense of responsibility, as he gained the respect of the natives and 

 induced them to bring up their children in at least a semi-civilized fashion. 

 It was not until 1808 that the lost colony was discovered - by an American 

 vessel, the "Topaze". Later other ships touched at Pitcairn and brought news 

 of the mutineers* descendants to the outside world. John Adams lived until 

 1829, and was succeeded by George Nobbs as Chief Magistrate. Through fear 

 of drought, the whole colony were returned to Tahiti in 1830 on a British 

 man-of-war, but they disliked the change, pined for their beloved Pitcairn and 

 were sent back in 1831. 



The Pitcainers thereafter had an up-and-down career for another 25 years, 

 when, in 1856, 60 married and 134 youngsters, were again removed, this time to 

 Norfolk Island. As time passed, a number (40) returned to Pitcairn, so that 

 in 1895 the population was about 170 souls. The Pitcairn people continue to 

 speak the patois, mostly composed of the Tahitian of the original Polynesian 

 women, that arose out of the mixed races that migrated in the days of the 



Bounty" and, although they show some of the signs of inbreeding consequent 

 on their century of complete isolation, are, as a rule, intelligent and, for 

 Polynesian half-breeds, are an active and virile race. 



The romantic story of the "Bounty" excited much interest all over the 

 world, and attracted the attention of Lord Byron, then approaching the end 

 of his tragic career. He further immortalized the mutineers in a poem - the 

 last long one from his pen - entitled "The Island", from which (Canto I) I 

 quote a few lines :- 



"Friendly Island for which the mutineer longed, and for which he risked his soul 



Wide S're the wave - away '. away '. away *. . 



Once more his eyes shall hail the welcome bay, 



Once more the happy shores without a law 



Receive the outlaws whom they lately saw; 



Nature and Nature's G°c!dess - Woman - woos 



To lands, save their conscience, none accuse; 



Where all partake the earth without dispute, 



And bread itself is gathered as a fruit 



Where none control the fields, the woods, the streams :- 



The goldless Age, where Gold disturbs no dreams, 



Inhabits or inhabited the shore, 



Till Europe taught them better than before; 



Bestowed her customs and amended theirs, 



But left her vices also to their heirs. 



Away with this I behold them as they were, 



DO good with Nature or with Nature err. 



"Huzza*, for the Otaheite" was the cry 



As stately swept the gallant vessel by," 



-7- 



