"I have also at this time written a letter to your Admiral in the Spanish coast, to come to Tahiti and assist me.

"Health and peace to you! may you be blessed, my sister friend, Queen of Great Britain, &c.

"POMARÉ, Queen of Tahiti."

The Queen of Tahiti, who is now upwards of fifty years of age, and has children of her own, adopted Reuben Nobbs, the Pastor's eldest son, but did not remove him from the care of his parents.

CHAPTER V.

RETURN OF THE PITCAIRN EMIGRANTS TO THEIR ISLAND IN 1833-PRESENT POPULATION OF PITCAIRN-LOYALTY OF THE ISLANDERS -THEIR RULES AND CUSTOMS THE ISLANDERS' DAY AT PITCAIRN — RECEPTION OF VESSELS TOUCHING AT THE ISLAND-HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS.

To return to the Pitcairn emigrants at Otaheite. The unhealthiness, and licentious manners of that place, distasteful as they were to a well-ordered Christian community, added to the love of country, which is a powerful principle at Pitcairn, soon led the people back to their island-home. When the British ship, Challenger, touched at Otaheite in 1833, it was found that all whom death had spared were gone back to their own native land. Some had yielded to the temptations to intemperance. Sickness also had become prevalent among them, and carried off twelve; and five died almost immediately after their return to Pitcairn.

No real grounds existed for the clearance of Pitcairn in 1831; and very serious consideration will doubtless be given to the

subject, before any plans are projected for the removal of the inhabitants from this island to another, on the presumed score of necessity. Should there be scarcity, and want of room, in consequence of the increase of population, it would surely not be necessary to remove all the islanders. Mr. Nobbs has said, in the hearing of the author, that as long as two families should remain at Pitcairn, he would remain also. Captain Fanshawe, of the Daphne, who visited the islanders in 1849, observed, "I could not trace in any of them the slightest desire to remove elsewhere. On the contrary, they expressed the greatest repugnance to do so, whilst a sweet potato remained to them; a repugnance much enhanced by their emigration to Otaheite about eighteen years ago."

If found needful, a certain amount of emigration might surely take place, formed on the principle of serving the interests of others, as well as their own, by means of Christian instruction and example: and the good leaven, thus infused into other communities, would produce the happiest effects upon them.

In the little work, entitled, "The Mutiny of the Bounty," it is remarked, that the Pitcairners have already proceeded from the simple canoe to row-boats; and that the progress from this to small-decked vessels is simple and natural. They may thus, at some future period, be the means of spreading Christianity, and, consequently, civilization, throughout the numerous groups of islands in the Southern Pacific.

The number of persons now inhabiting the island is 170; namely, 88 males, and 82 females. All are natives of the place except three, the Rev. Geo. H. Nobbs, John Buffett, and John Evans. The only surnames on the island are eight; namely, Adams, Christian, M'Coy, Quintal, Young, Buffett, Evans, and Nobbs. Brown, Martin, and Williams, had no children; nor had any of the Otaheitan men. John Mills

left no son.

The original division of the island was into nine parts, between the nine mutineers; it is now subdivided into twentytwo, the present number of families. Some little misunderstandings occasionally arise

as to boundaries; but these, as well as such other matters of dispute as now and then occur, are generally soon settled by the chief magistrate, and the two councillors.

Pitcairn's Island is not a colony; but the owners of "this sceptred isle,"

"This precious stone set in the silver sea,"

avow a hearty allegiance to the Queen of England. Her Majesty's birth-day is observed as an occasion of much joy. All the people assemble near the church, in holiday apparel; the bell is set ringing, and old and young unite in singing loyal songs in honour of the day. Not only the cheerful bell is heard, but the deep-mouthed gun is also introduced to assist at the solemnity. The history of this gun is curious. It once belonged to the Bounty, and was fished up from the bottom of the sea in 1845, with one of its companions which had been spiked, and which is therefore useless. The better of the two, after remaining many fathom deep for five-and-fifty years, is somewhat honeycombed, and, when brought into play, is used with requisite caution. The scene presented by the assem