372 POPULATION AND STOCK. 
" The first step for future provision has been 
taken by planting their esteemed sweet potato. 
Pending harvest time, which they give six 
months to come about, I leave this community 
of 193 persons, comprising 40 men, 47 women, 
54 boys, and 52 girls, provided with 45,500 lbs. 
of biscuit, flour, maize, and rice, with groceries 
in proportion, and abundance of milk at their 
hand. Their live stock and fodder consists of 
1,300 sheep, 430 cattle, 22 horses, 10 swine in 
sties, 16 domestic fowls, 16,000 lbs. hay, 5,000 
lbs. straw, and a quantity of wild pigs and 
fowls. Lest, however, the first crop should be 
retarded or fall short, I have submitted a list of 
supplies which the Governor-General will for- 
ward to these islanders as an extent-in-aid." 
.Every reader must be struck with the fore- 
thought and delicacy, as well as energy, shown 
in this transaction by all concerned in it. 
Reverting to Pitcairn's Island, Captain Den- 
ham added, that future voyagers might find 
fresh beef there, as some cattle had been left 
upon it. A few sheep, with several goats and 
fowls, were also left at Pitcairn. The pigs were 
destroyed, lest they should break through the 
fence, and disturb the graveyard. 
During the voyage from Pitcairn to Norfolk 
Island, one of the senior members of the com- 
munity, Arthur Quintal, wrote thus to his excel- 
lent friend Admiral Moresby : — 
1 " At Sea, May 14th, 1856. 
" My dear Friend, 
" You may easily guess, from the date of my 
letter, where I am bound to. I am on board an 
