172 HIS ARRIVAL AT PITCAIRN. 
his fellow-creatures. He had at that period 
been four times round the world : and he 
left England with the full and avowed 
intention of going to Pitcairn's Island. He 
was detained for a long time in Calcutta; 
from whence, after a very narrow escape 
from shipwreck in the Straits of Sunda, he 
crossed the Pacific to Valparaiso. There, 
and afterwards at Callao, he suffered a fur- 
ther detention ; but ultimately he succeeded 
in leaving Callao in a frail bark of eighteen 
tons burden, having expended one hundred 
and fifty pounds sterling on the vessel and 
her outfit. He was accompanied by only 
one other person, an American, named Noah 
Bunker, and arrived at Pitcairn in October 
1828. His companion died soon afterwards ; 
and the vessel afforded the materials for a 
house for Mr. Nobbs. John Adams received 
him with kindness; and after Adams's 
death in March 1829, Mr. Nobbs, who had 
been engaged in keeping school from the 
period of his arrival, was appointed the 
teacher. 
When he first entered upon his charge, 
the number of inhabitants was only sixty- 
