PITCAIRN'S ISLAND. 99 
" Having set foot on shore," says Mr. Brodie, 
who was there in March 1850, " you ascend a 
steep hill, almost a cliff, for about three hundred 
yards, to a table-land, planted with cocoa-nut- 
trees, which is called the market-place, about a 
quarter of a mile beyond which, at the north end of 
the island, lies the settlement, flanked by a grove 
of cocoa-nut-trees, kumeras, and plantains, &c. 
t which make the approach very picturesque." * 
Though the island, according to Captain Car- 
teret, owes its name to young Mr. Pit cairn, he 
having been the first native of this kingdom who 
noted the place, it was doubtless once known by 
some other name, which is now lost, together 
with all traces of its former inhabitants, except 
a few human skeletons, idols, and weapons, 
which were discovered there by the mutineers. 
It has become a clear matter' of fact, that the 
island was inhabited previously to their arrival. 
Overlooking Bounty Bay is a lofty peak, within 
100 yards of which were found on a rock four 
images, about six feet in height, placed upon 
a platform, which is called a paipai. One of 
these was a rude representation of the human 
figure, to the hips, hewn out of a piece of red 
lava. Each of the skulls which were dug up 
had under it a pearl-shell, according to the mode 
of burial adopted in the place at the time, pro- 
bably some centuries since. It has been sug- 
gested with reason, that the ancient occupants 
were drifted to this place from the Gambier, or 
other islands, on a raft. Several specimens of 
* " Pitcairn's Island, and the Islanders in 1850." By 
Walter Brodie. 
