244 DESCRIPTION OF NORFOLK ISLAND. 
often rises, in a moment, to the height of seven 
or ten feet ; and the drawback, or receding 
of the waves, is absolutely terrific, so that 
few Europeans washed off have been able to 
make the land again. However, the Pitcairners 
must have been accustomed from their infancy 
to fish in such dangerous waters, so they would 
feel quite at home. The whole island teems 
with life. Parrots and parroquets, of various 
kinds, swarm in your path. Pigeons (originally 
the common English pigeon let loose) are in 
innumerable flocks ; and magnificent wood- 
guests, plovers, and sandpipers, are often to be 
had. No venomous reptile of any kind is on 
the island ; and it is very rarely indeed that 
you ever feel or see the mosquito, which seems 
indigenous to all other warm localities." 
It was recently in the contemplation of the 
British government to accede to the request of 
the people of Pitcairn, and to remove them to 
Norfolk Island, as soon as all the convicts should 
have been conveyed from that spot. Under the 
projected arrangement, no other class of settlers 
were to have been allowed to occupy any lands 
on the island. v These measures have been in- 
definitely postponed, in consequence of certain 
requisite delays in the entire evacuation of 
Norfolk Island, than which there could not be 
a worse place for the pure and amiable Pit- 
cairners, unless it were completely cleared of 
such of its unhappy occupants as still remain 
upon it. Since this expression of the views of 
government, with regard to the proposed transfer, 
