198 LETTERS FROM THE ISLANDERS. 
us, Pitcairn Islanders. Now I have taken 
this opportunity to write these few lines to 
you, informing you of the state of things in 
our little island. We are all getting on 
very well. I hope that you and the rest of 
our friends are getting on well, as we are. I 
return you thanks for your kind letter, which 
I have received from H.M. ship Calypso; 
also the present which is sent by you and 
the rest of the kind gentlemen at Valparaiso. 
We have received from you all such things as 
are very valuable to us, spades, saws, pots, 
and other articles. We have received them 
all with the greatest pleasure, and I return 
you all a thousand thanks for them. The 
presents are divided equally amongst us all, 
from the oldest woman to the youngest child; 
we are in number 141. 
" Kind friend, this is the first opportunity 
I have had to write to you. I will thank you 
very much if you will take this fund of money 
which you will see in this paper, and buy me 
a few fish-hooks of the size you will see in 
the paper ; and also for my family's use six 
copies of Watts's Hymn-books, and one 
Family Bible. 
