VOYAGE TO THE 
. instance of the rigid manner in which these islanders observe their 
word. 
Wives upon Pitcairn’s Island, it may be imagined, are very scarce, 
as the same restrictions with regard to relationship exist as in England. 
George, in his early days, had fallen in love with Polly Young, a girl a 
little older than himself ; but Polly, probably at that time liking some 
one else, and being at the age when young ladies’ expectations are at 
the highest, had incautiously said, she never would give her hand to 
George Adams. He, nevertheless, indulged a hope that she would 
one day relent ; and to this end was unremitting in his endeavours to 
please her. In this expectation he was not mistaken ; his constancy 
and attentions, and, as he grew into manhood, his handsome form, which 
George took every opportunity of throwing into the most becoming 
attitudes before her, softened Polly’s heart into a regard for him, and, 
had nothing passed before, she would willingly have given him her 
hand. But the vow of her youth was not to be got over, and the love- 
sick couple languished on from day to day, victims to the folly of early 
resolutions. 
The weighty case was referred for our consideration; and the fears 
of the party were in some measure relieved by the result, which was, 
that it would be much better to marry than to continue unhappy, in 
consequence of a hasty determination made before the judgment w^as 
matured ; they could not, however, be prevailed on to yield to our 
decision, and we left them unmarried. 
Another instance of a rigid performance of promise was exem- 
plified in old Adams, who is anxious that his own conduct should form 
an example to the rising generation. 
In the course of conversation, he one day said he would accompany 
me up the mountain, if there was nobody else near ; and it so hap- 
pened, that on the only day I had leisure to go the young men were 
all out of the way. Adams, therefore, insisted upon performing his 
engagement, though the day was extremely hot, and the journey was 
much too laborious, in any weather, for his advanced period of life. He, 
nevertheless, set out, adding, “ I said I would go, and so I will : besides. 
