LETTEE OF ADMIRAL MORESBY. 197 
present abundance, which they exchange with 
the whalers for clothing, oil, medicine, and other 
necessaries ; but the crops on the tillage ground 
begin to deteriorate, landslips occur with each 
succeeding storm, and the declivities of the 
hills, when denuded, are laid bare by the pe- 
riodical rains. Their diet consists of yams, 
sweet potatoes, and bread-fruit ; a small quan- 
tity of fish is occasionally caught; their pigs 
supply annually upon an average about 501bs. 
of meat to each individual ; and they have a 
few goats and fowls. Their want of clothing 
and other absolute necessaries is very pressing, 
and I am satisfied that the time has arrived 
when preparation, at least, must be made for 
the future, seven or eight years being the ut- 
most that can be looked forward to for a con- 
tinuance of their present means of support. The 
summary of the year 1851 gives births, 12; 
deaths, 2; marriages, 3. On their return from 
Otaheite they numbered about 60, of whom 
there were married 13 couple; the rest from the 
age of 1 6 to infancy. 
" Mr. Nobbs was anxious to avail himself of 
my offer to convey him to Valparaiso, and 
thence enable him to proceed to England, for 
the purpose of obtaining ordination. At a 
general meeting of the inhabitants their consent 
was given, provided I would leave the chaplain 
of the Portland until Mr. Nobbs returned : the 
advantage is so obvious that I feel confident 
their lordships will approve my consenting. 
From the anxiety which has b een expressed by 
high authorities of the Church for Mr. Nobbs's 
