PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
91 
bring the water from a distance in calabashes ; so, that with the utmost CHAP, 
despatch, our daily supply scarcely equalled the consumption, and we 
were compelled to trust to the hope of being more fortunate at some Dec^ 
other island. 
During the period of our stay in the vicinity of the island, we 
scarcely saw the sun, and I began to despair of being able to fix our 
position with sufficient accuracy. On the 20th, however, the clouds 
cleared away, and the night was passed in obtaining lunar distances 
with stars east and west of the moon, several meridional altitudes, and 
transits which, compared with those taken the first night the instru- 
ment was put up, gave good rates to the chronometers. Our labours 
having thus terminated more successfully than we expected, we hastened 
our embarkation, which took place on the 21st. In return for the 
hindness we experienced from the islanders, we made them presents of 
articles the most useful to them which we could spare, and they were 
furnished with a blue cloth suit each from the extra clothing put on 
board for the ship’s company, and the women with several pieces of 
gowns and handkerchiefs, &c. 
When we were about to take leave, our friends assembled to ex- 
press their regret at our departure. All brought some little present 
for our acceptance, which they wished us to keep in remembrance of 
them ; after which they accompanied us to the beach, where we took 
our leave of the female part of the inhabitants. Adams and the young 
men pushed off in their own boat to the ship, determined to accom- 
pany us to sea as far as they could with safety. They continued on 
board, unwillina: to leave us, until we w^ere a considerable distance from 
land, when they shook each of us feelingly by the hand, and, amidst ex- 
pressions of the deepest concern at our departure, wished us a pros- 
perous voyage, and hoped that we might one day meet again. As 
soon as they were clear of the ship they all stood up in their boat, and 
gave us three hearty cheers, which were as heartily returned. As the 
leather became foggy, the barge towed them towards the shore, and we 
took a final leave of them, unconscious until the moment of separation 
of the warm interest their situation and good conduct had created in us. 
The Pitcairn islanders are tall, robust, and healthy. Their average 
■N 2 
