94 PITCAIEN'S ISLAND. 
and the crew carried off some cocoa-nuts, but 
quitted before the inhabitants could communi- 
cate with them. 
Captain Folger on his approach was surprised 
to see smoke and signs of houses, as he had 
thought the island uninhabited; but he was 
more astonished on seeing canoes, and finding 
himself hailed in good English by the men, 
who invited him to land. This he at first 
declined ; but one of the Topaz men offered to 
go on shore, if the ship were allowed to come 
near the rocks, so that he might swim off if 
attacked. He went on shore, and had some 
conversation with John Adams, who, observing 
that the man had a long and neglected beard, 
asked him why he did not shave? Without 
waiting for a reply, Adams sent one of the young 
natives for his razors, which were brought ; and 
the man underwent the operation with alarm 
and apprehension. He returned as quickly as 
possible to the ship. The Captain then came 
on shore, and remained the greater part of the 
day. He took the opportunity of giving Adams 
an account of the many and great naval battles, 
in which England had been engaged, and of the 
various victories which had been gained. (What 
a glorious catalogue !) And at the end of the 
narrative, Adams gave a loud cheer, shouting, 
" Old England for ever ! " 
The visit of Captain Folger introduces us to 
Pitcairn's Island, and its inhabitants. Some 
readers may now desire 'to learn the origin of its 
name, and the circumstances of its first discovery 
by British navigators. 
