S8S Account of mtcairTbS Island, being' an 
ship being at too great a distance to have communication with 
her before dark, I gave up this idea. We landed on the south- 
west part of the island, among some coral rocks, at the back of 
which is the beach before mentioned. It appears about six 
leagues in circumference, and we found no anchorage ; but I 
think opposite to the sandy-beaches to the northward of our 
landing-place, anchorage would be found. The latitude of 
Elizabeth’s Island is 24° 26' S., longitude west of Greenwich 
127° 50h At 3 P. M., joined the ship, and made sail at 10 
P. M. 
On the 2d of March we saw Pitcairn’s Island : At 5 P. M. 
of the same day we were within half a league of it, and could not 
persuade ourselves, from the barren appearance of the hill, that 
any person who had ever seen the fertile hills and dales of 
Great Britain, would ever fix their residence among these 
barren mountains. We stood off and on all night, under easy 
sail, and shewed a light in the main-rigging, which was answer- 
ed by two large fires on shore. A young girl, named Dorothy 
Young, (as we afterwards were told,) had been at work at a 
plantation opposite to the ship, ran to the village, and told them 
of our arrival, in consequence of which they made the fires in 
answer to our light. About 6 A. M., on Wednesday, March 3. 
I stood the ship close in to what the inhabitants call Ship- 
landing-place, (from the circumstance of the Bounty being 
hauled on shore and burnt at fhis place,) in expectation 
that some of tlie inhabitants ^vould probably come off to me. 
I hove to with our head off, and prepared a boat to go on 
shore ; in a few minutes after, we saw a boat with nine men 
come out from amongst the rocks, through a tremendous 
surf, I now sent my boat to meet them, and tow them on 
board. When they came alongside, they ascended the ship’s 
side with much good humour, and came aft on the quarter- 
deck where I was, and taking me by the hand, gave it a 
hearty shake, and said, ‘‘ How do you do Captain.” They 
then asked the ship’s name, my name, where bound, whence 
from, and made many other trifling inquiries, in very good Eng- 
lish, After satisfying them respecting these matters, I invited 
them into the cabin, and set before them some salt-beef, grog, 
biscuit and porter, with which they seemed pleased. Putting 
