210 THE LEAVE-TAKING. 
venerable and benevolent commander-in-chief 
of her Majesty's forces in the Pacific, standing 
on the rocky beach at Bounty Bay (the very 
spot where the mutineers had landed sixty- 
two years before), himself the oldest person 
there, by fifteen years, surrounded by stal- 
wart men and matronly women, youths, 
maidens, and little children, every one in 
tears and most deeply affected, formed a 
truly impressive scene. The boat was some 
time in readiness before the admiral could 
avail himself of an opportunity to embark. 
Some held him by the hand, the elder women 
hanging on his neck, and the younger ones 
endeavouring to obtain a promise that he 
would revisit them. As a number of the 
men went on board with the admiral, a 
similar scene occurred there ; and as the last 
boat pushed off from the ship, some of the 
hardy tars standing in the gangway were 
detected in hastily brushing away a tear. 
The frigate now stood in for the last time, 
and, hoisting the royal standard, fired a salute 
of twenty-one guns. The tars manned the 
rigging, and gave three hearty cheers, and 
one cheer more. The islanders responded: 
