CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE. 413 
my own crew, and the parties on the beach. 
The kind and affectionate manner in which 
these trusting people welcomed me cannot be 
expressed in words. After placing our boat in 
safety, we were escorted by them from the Cas- 
cades to the settlement, where every hospitality 
was shown both to myself and my men. 
" It being the Sabbath, I did not encroach on 
their time ; but on the following day the Pitcairn 
Islanders of both sexes, children included, came 
to give us a hearty English welcome, and to 
minister to our immediate wants ; nor did their 
kindness and attention cease until I left. It 
coming on to blow, my vessel was compelled to 
get under weigh and stand out to sea, leaving 
me on the island, and I was thus enabled to 
learn from them their immediate wants, their 
form of government, and such like. Their mode 
of government is extremely simple, and as 
effective as it is simple. A magistrate and two 
councillors are elected annually. If any dispute 
arises, it is referred to these, and their decision 
is presumed to be binding. If, however, that 
decision is not satisfactory, a reference is made 
to the captain of the first British man-of-war 
touching at the island ; and from his decision 
there is no appeal. These disputes, however, 
never create any angry feeling between the 
parties ; they live on as friendly as ever. The 
magistrates have very little difficulty in recti- 
fying all differences as they arise. 
" During my stay, I conversed with the 
greatest part of the community. Crime of any 
kind, theft, swearing, falsehood, immorality, are 
