A WEEK AT PTTCAIRN. 295 
stant interest to those who were not sea-sick; 
but, unfortunately, most of the women and 
children were very much so. We landed in 
the afternoon ; and in the evening the Islanders 
again sang the songs we were never tired of hear- 
ing; and we amused them by dancing among 
ourselves, and playing at leap-frog, blind-man's 
buff, &c, at which they laughed heartily. 
The next day, Wednesday, having planted 
the roses, fig-trees, &c, we felt it was time to 
hasten on our way, and accordingly wished our 
friends good-bye, except the few who accom- 
panied us on board, intending to return in their 
whale-boat. 
At about half-past one the capstan was 
manned, and we were about to get under weigh, 
when our attention was arrested by the firing of 
the Bounty s gun, in farewell salute. 
Scarcely had the sound died away, when it 
was succeeded by what we at first took to be 
cheers; but which, alas! proved to be shrieks 
from the women and children along the cliffs. 
A boat was instantly manned and sent on shore, 
with the two surgeons. 
By the help of the glass, we could see the 
women carrying two forms along the cliffs to- 
wards the houses, by which we feared that 
3ome fatal accident had occurred. 
In a short time a canoe came from the shore, 
with the melancholy tidings, that in loading the 
gun, the chief magistrate, Matthew M'Coy, and 
two others, Driver Christian, and William 
Evans, were seriously, if not fatally injured. 
On reaching the village, we found that poor 
