300 A WEEK AT PITCAIRN, 
hearted race. Poor M' Coy's death had called 
forth our sympathy ; the strong tie of a mutual 
sorrow caused their tears to mingle with our 
farewell regrets. vs^ -,* 
The Pitcairn Islanders are undoubtedly a fine 
race ; the figures of the men being, however, 
better than those of the women, which betray 
their Tahitian origin. The expression of the 
face in both sexes is generally good, often singu- 
larly noble and intellectual ; their skin is dark, 
darker than I had expected, although ex- 
ceptions occur, particularly in children, when it 
is sometimes nearly white ; their eyes are large 
and lustrous, and their teeth beautiful. 
; The week spent at Pitcairn's Island will be 
looked upon by me as one of the most interesting 
of my life. A state of society is there beheld 
which cannot be believed unless seen. 
^ In many points, particularly in the culture of 
their minds, a high state of civilisation presents 
itself, without vice or luxury, the community 
living in the most primitive simplicity. But 
the most remarkable feature in their character is 
that of earnest and universal piety. And from 
this fountain springs their brotherly love, so 
true, so touching, so unlike anything I had ever 
seen or dreamed of, as animating a whole com- 
munity, that it can only be likened to the feeling 
that exists in a deeply religious and united 
private family in England. 
6 So earnest is their piety, so directly does it 
appear to spring from Him who is the Divine 
Source of all religion, that I almost fancied 
myself in a Theocracy of the primitive ages. / 
