118 FIRST INTERVIEW 
from the landing-place, some natives were 
observed bringing down their canoes on their 
shoulders, dashing through a heavy surf, and 
paddling off to the ships ; but the astonishment 
of our sailors was unbounded on hearing one 
of the natives, on approaching the ship, call 
out in the English language, "Won't you 
heave us a rope, now ?" 
The first man who got on board the Briton 
soon proved who they were. His name, he 
said, was Thursday October Christian, the 
first born on the island,* son of Fletcher 
Christian. He was then about twenty-five 
years of age, a fine young man, about six 
feet high, his hair deep black; his counte- 
nance open and interesting ; of a brownish 
cast, but free from all that mixture of a 
reddish tint which prevails on the Pacific 
islands ; his only dress was a piece of cloth 
round his loins, and a straw hat, ornamented 
with the black feathers of the domestic fowl. 
" With a great share of good humour," says 
Captain Pipon, " we were glad to trace in 
his benevolent countenance all the features 
of an honest English face. I must confess," 
* He was born on a Thursday in October. 
