PRIVATIONS AT PITCAIRN IN 1853. 221 
in a body to the village ; and they then told us 
how dreadfully close they were, and how they 
had been pushed for food. The officers and 
crew of the Virago had handsomely presented 
them with all their savings of provisions. But for 
this timely supply, their distress would have been 
much more sharply felt. They made the best 
of their narration, trying to say, that they 
generally fared so well, that the least privation 
seemed to them a great hardship ; but their thin 
figures and low spirits told the truth. 
" We stayed from Monday until Thursday 
morning, and passed our time in much the 
same manner as before, taking walks over the 
Island, sketching, talking, and singing: truly 
a more innocent and delightful race could not 
exist. 
" The Admiral was, with much reason, pleased 
with the progress made by Jane Nobbs. Whilst 
she was at Valparaiso we saw very little of her, 
in order that she might apply closely to her 
studies; but on our passage we had time to 
form a correct opinion of her. She had learnt 
to sew neatly, with many other useful domestic 
accomplishments, and all this without losing in 
the least her pristine simplicity and modesty. 
I trust she will prove a useful member of the 
community. 
" On Thursday we left, and shaped our course 
for the Gambier Islands ; we sighted them the 
same evening ; but the weather was so bad, we 
dared not attempt to pass through the narrow 
entrance of the reef. For some days the wea- 
ther was worse ; and as it was a fair wind for 
