PITCAIRN ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1583, 29 October 1912, Page 5

PITCAIRN ISLAND.

AN ISOLATED COMMUNITY. By Telesrapli—Press ABsociatlon-CopyrishJ Sydney, October 28. Mr. Carey, a Seventh Day Aclventist missionary, has returned, after being several years on Pitcairn Island, where he also acted as school teacher and physician. He states that there are 148 people on the island, 71 males and 77 females. They were adherents of the Church, of England, but had now adopted the Seventh Day tenets. They were a happy, hospitable, sociable people, paissionately fond of music. Tho communal system does not, as is often supposed, exist. Each person has a little plot, and they help one another; but if a man loafs, he suffers. The island is productive of fruits and other crops. . There are large numbers of goats, but only one horse, and no oxen. There are no intoxicating | liquors. Only two of tho inhabitants — Americans, who recently joined the community—use tobacco. Intermarriage is having a very, injurious effect morally and physically. 'Every couple is more or less related. Though they are greatly attached to the island, Jlr. Carey regards it.as imperative in their own interest thnt they should leave and be scattered over Australia or elsewhere. Pitcairn Island (twa square miles) is situated in the Pacific Ocean, nearly I equidistant from Australia and America (25deg. 3min. S. Int., liiOdeg. Bmin. E. long.), and is contiguous to the low archipelago (Tuamotu), which is under French protection. It was discovered by Carteret in 1767, but remained uninhabited until 1780, when it was occupied by the mutineers of H.Jf.S. Bounty, with some women from Otaheite. Nothing wns known of their existence until the island was visited in 1808. No.regular government was established, but assistance of various kinds was given on tho subsequent visits of English vessels. In 185 C the population having becdmej too large for the island's resources, the inhabitants (192 in number) were, 'at' their own request, removed, with all their possessions, to Norfolk Island; but id of them soon returned. -In" 1873 tiiese had increased to 76, and .1879 to 90'." : ' : ■ ''.'*''/' '"''' . It is.a British.colony,,by,settlement,and was brought within the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner for tho W. Pacific in 1893 under s. G of the Pacific Order-in-Council, 1893. The Chief Magistrate is. Mr. Arthur H. Young. The islands of Henderson, Ducie, and Ocno were annexed in 1902, and are included in the district of Pitcairn. They are reported to contain deposits of plwsphate. . . '