PITCAIRN
NEWS
DEM TULL
Volume 9 No 10
Longboat seen through the porthole of the officers’
mess room onboard the “Europa”
NOVEMBER 2014
Kari orn Pitcairn tull: We are heading towards summer, but the weather certainly doesn’t indicate warmer weather. We have had hard winds
from northeast most of the month, and nights are still quite nippy. No doubt January and February will have soaring temperatures, making us long
for winter again.
Another medical evacuation on the 29th, but not in a longboat this time (Dem Tull June 2014), he left for hospital in Tahiti on cruise ship “Europa”,
and in a cabin, a tad improved from the wet deck of the longboat – no offense to the brave longboat crew!
The Claymore arrived with cargo and mail on the 12th, and on her two rotations brought, among others, Governor Sinclair for a visit, and
Administrator Richmond and wife, Isaebal, for a year’s posting. The Claymore will leave for New Zealand on 7th December, to return in late
February. A complete turnover of outside personnel, - those leaving include constable Craig and Claire, Gov Rep Pete and wife, Cynthia, social
worker Fiona and her partner David, Doctor Lloyd, teacher Jim, and also our church leader Jean Claude with Esperance and Faith. Replacement for
Craig, Lloyd and Pete have arrived. Cruise ships Silver Explorer, Silver Shadow, Europa and lastly Braveheart with another boatload of
birdwatchers spending the day ashore.
Thanks to Brian, Terry, Brenda, Craig for pictures this issue.
Fog at Taro Ground in the early morning, when the hills are not even
visible from Adamstown. Very quiet and very spooky on top of the
island, you can’t see the surrounding hills or even across the lawn.
1
Back issues of Dem Tull 2007-2014 can be found
at www.demtullpitcairn.com
Doris Dever, resident
nurse/medical officer on
Pitcairn in 1973-75, and
wife of John Dever, who
was our pastor, passed
away recently. She will be
remembered by us old
enough to have lived in
the 70s. She and
assistant, nurse Royal,
used to walk through
Adamstown to all the old
bedridden pitkerners
every morning, nursing
them and dispensing
medication – Caddy,
Norris and Mae. She was
also a master cook, and
held demonstration in
vegetarian cooking for the
women every week.
Correction from last month’s issue: I wrote that Vieder Young was born on Norfolk in 1850, but of course he wasn’t, he
was born on Pitcairn. The Pitcairners did not go to Norfolk till 1856, which I jolly well knew, but I didn’t have my thinking
cap on. Thanks to Meralda, who reminded me. There were in fact four pitkern men who were born during the Norfolk
sojourn, and they were discriminated against later on, being denied the right to be elected magistrate on Pitcairn. You
had to be born on Pitcairn. That changed later, though, but it shows that politics in the old days was just as heated as
today.
Another correction: altogether seven children left for New Zealand on the last Claymore run, not five. There was a lot of
mind-changing the last couple of weeks, but six year old Cushana is now the only child on Pitcairn, in fact the only one
under the age of 28.
Meralda on facebook: Yesterday afternoon, the Children left on PI
are Cushana and Faith. Cushana had stuck a round sticker behind our
ears like a seasick patch. This patch is to stop you crying lala. Seasick
patches dont work for me and neither did the dont cry patch as the
Longboat shot out the harbour taking our Children to the outside
world.
Kari: Our daughter was seven years old when I had to take her to
New Zealand for a tonsil operation. She was very anxious, as she had
never seen anything but Pitcairn and visiting ships before. But when
she asked me “are there children in New Zealand, too?” I realized I
could not even begin to understand her conception of the world
outside Pitcairn.
Melva on facebook: It was an experience
traveling with our Pitcairn kids. For most of
them, tying up alongside a wharf was a new
experience. On arriving at Mangareva:
Ryan: Where is everybody?
Mummy: This isn't Pitcairn. They don't all
come down to greet people like they do on
Pitcairn.
See what we teach our children? Pitcairn
people turn out to welcome visitors. Kids
notice things.
Letters to the editor: Donna in USA asked, “Are any houses kept up to rent? What
happened to Terry's house?” - (There are a couple of houses for rent, just look up
http://www.visitpitcairn.pn/visitpitcairn/accommodation/index.html. Terry’s house
is still sitting there empty, getting overgrown, but the time has come to tidy it up.)
“How is cash, ATM, credit and checks handled on Pitcairn?” – (At the office of the
Government Treasurer one can cash check and credit cards, and we can also pay
cash to be transferred to our bank account in New Zealand. In the not so distant past
we had to send cash by registered mail to pay bills or deposit to our bank accounts.
Sometimes our bundles of dollars never reached its destination, so we feel today’s
system is a great improvement.)
Thanks for sending me this issue, I look forward to receiving each issue. I live in
Virginia and I am looking at a vase I ordered from a craftsman on your Island.
Although many miles away I think of you all when I see the vase and DEM TULL
seems to erase the miles. Yours Truly, Ed, USA
Kari, it's so good to read DEM TULL every month and see, from time to time, pictures
of people and places I remember. – Thurman, USA
I have just read your June Dem Tull and I was sorry to hear about Brian’s injury. I
truly hope that Brian’s recovery is both full and swift. Your impressive journey, has
been discussed between those of us that had the honour to be on your Island, and it
shows your seamanship is second to none. – prison warden 2007-08, NZ.
Hi, my name is Richard. I live in Québec, Canada. I read each publication of Dem Tull. I like
courage and determination of Pitcairn people. BRAVO! Good luck.. Richard, Canada
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CONGRATULATIONS TO
RALPH AND YASODAR
Young Ralph, son of Charlene and Vaine,
celebrated his marriage to Yasodar in New
Zealand. They are planning to bring their baby
up to Pitcairn next year.
SCHOOL CHILDREN’S CONCERT
The school room out at Pulau was full of expectant parents, family members and neighbours when the eight school- and preschoolkids put on an end of the year concert for the community, with skits, singing and general entertainment. The three little cats in the
middle are the youngest children on the island.
Farewell to teacher Jim, and to constable Craig with Claire, gov-rep Pete with Cynthia, plus Doc Lloyd (to the right,
posing in the surgery with the next doctor Kevin, who has already been serving as doctor on the island twice before).
Our lay pastor Jean Claude with Esperance and daughter Faith left for their home in Tahaa in French Polynesia, and our
church is now without a pastor. Once again.
We got the sad news this
month that Lyndon Warren
in Wellington passed away.
Lyndon was born on Pitcairn
19th February 1926 to
Burley Warren and Eleanor
(Young), the oldest of four
siblings. The family
emigrated to New Zealand
decades ago, and has lived
there since.
Faith practicing on the ukulele, aspiring to be a fine musician like both her parents are.
3
VISIT OF THE NEW GOVERNOR
Immediately after their arrival on the Claymore on the 26th, Governor Jonathan and Administrator Alan attended a Council meeting in the hall.
Jonathan and Alan to the right, and departing Governor’s Rep Pete to the left in group picture (top)
The Governor demonstrated on the board what role
the new Administrator will have. Being line manager
of our four Division Managers, two of whom are also
members of Council, he will be the ‘head of
bureaucracy’ on island.
The document that the Governor is signing, is not just
any document, it is the first ordinance signed on
Pitcairn in modern times in the presence of Mayor and
Council members. The ordinance is relating to the
office of Administrator, which is a new concept on the
island, though it was strongly recommended as far
back as 1870s (even before Pitcairn was officially
‘English’) that a non-island Administrator be residing
on the island.
After the Council meeting, Alan met with the four DMs,
with whom he will have weekly meetings in the future.
The Governor also attended an afternoon tea for the
pensioners at the hostel, a monthly tradition initiated
by Cynthia. Apart from the pitkern pensioners and
Cynthia, the new Administrator’s wife Iseabal also
took part.
Pensioners’ afternoon tea with a table of goodies
4
On the morning of Sunday the 30th, there was a public
meeting, with questions from the public. Once again it
was reiterated from the governor (like the preceeding
two governors have assured us since the ‘closingdown’ suspicions started circulating) that no, HMG is
not planning to close down the island. Most of the
pitkerners nevertheless seem to believe that is the
case. Time will tell.
SILVER EXPLORER
Left: Silver Explorer arrived in
bad weather, and though she
stayed for two days, the
passengers could not get
ashore. The longboat,
however, went out with
intrepid traders, and to pick
up stores ordered beforehand.
Right: looks like pitkerners
are a thirsty lot!
Left: Explorer’s zodiac
ventured ashore to try
out conditions, but
decided too risky for
their passengers. Right:
I met up with two
Norwegian passengers,
one was Lasse, an old
schoolmate from
Norway 40 years ago,
who is also an avid
Dem Tull reader! It’s a
small world!!
SILVER SHADOW
Two days after the Silver Explorer, we had a visit from the Silver Shadow. Passengers
could not get ashore, but we all went out to do some good trading.
Two Dem Tull
readers among the passengers had made contact with us, and Peter Benest took this
picture of the longboat, which he sent me. The seas do look rather rough.
Timothy Lawson was the other passenger who made himself known to us. He works for
SPC in New Caledonia, and sent us a link to his grandfather’s story about a Bounty anchor
originally found in Matavai Bay in Tahiti. Historian Tim made us aware that there are
diverse opinions about the authenticity of this anchor, but who knows. The story is good,
and also proves the immense interest in the Bounty drama, both at the time of Timothy’s
great grandfather in the 1930s and today. He wrote to Big Tim:
“The other reason for my interest in Pitcairn is related to my great-grandfather, William
Washington Bolton (1858-1946), an Englishman who also lived in the South Pacific, from
1920 until his death in 1946 in Papeete. He was a prolific author and wrote many articles
and books about the history of the region.
I am contacting you because those living on Pitcairn may be interested to know about his
article in the 22 July 1938 edition of the Pacific Islands Monthly, "The Bounty's Lost
Anchor" (attached). This is the anchor that got stuck in the coral at Matavai just as they
were leaving Tahiti for Pitcairn and which they had to abandon. My great-grandfather
(WWB) lived in Papeete from 1928 onwards and when he found out about the Bounty's
anchor, which had been freed from the coral in about 1890 and brought ashore, he contacted the National Maritime Museum in
Greenwich, England, to confirm that the anchor was from the period of the Bounty, and he was informed that "indeed, it would not
be possible to throw doubt upon the authenticity of the anchor...". According to WWB, when the anchor was finally freed from the
coral in about 1890, it was placed in shallow water on the fringing reef of Matavai Bay. (This was well after Pomare V had ceded his
sovereignty to the French in 1880.) It was moved to the garden of the Chief of Arué in 1937. And it was later moved to the Papeete
Museum, from where it was transferred to Auckland Maritime Museum in 1942, stuck in a corner without a label.
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“BOUNTY’S” LOST ANCHOR (From Pacific Island Monthly 22 July 1938, pages 46 and 48)
Interesting Relic In Tahiti
The anchor in 1938
BY W. W. BOLTON, M.A.
WHEN in 1789, Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers brought the “Bounty” back to Tahiti, he
sought the same spot for anchorage as Bligh had used when loading his cargo of bread fruit trees. This
was not at Matavai Bay proper, but its western arm, Papaoa, where an extensive valley runs down from
the hills at the back to the sea.
He had no intention of stopping long — he was all for hiding from the long arm of the law and, having secured sufficient supplies and water, he
attempted to weigh anchor. But the “Bounty” had grounded on a sunken reef, of which there are plenty to this day thereabouts. There was nothing
for it but to use his spare anchor as a kedge, 1 to haul her off. This was successful, but the kedge was held fast by the coral it had bitten into, and
there was no hope of its release.
There was but one thing to do — to cut the cable and leave the anchor behind. This was done and the “Bounty” passed out of the picture. But the
incident was not forgotten by the natives.
Time and again, as the years rolled on, an effort was made to get that anchor, but the grip held fast. One generation followed another, and the
story of the lost anchor of the “Bounty” passed on down, with the resolve of the district of Arue that some day it should be recovered. Nigh 50
years ago, when the present Chief of Arue was a strenuous young lad, there was a call for yet another attempt.
To the joy of the neighbourhood the long-fast grip had loosened. It was not wholly unexpected, as to them it was only a question of time, for they
had seen in other cases the strong corrosive action of coral on iron. The flukes of one arm so long held fast were gone; there was left but the point.
This they easily withdrew, and dragged the weighty anchor to the edge of the lagoon, leaving it for a time on the fringing reef, in shallow water.
Some years later, the relic was drawn up on dry land, and lay in a coconut plantation, soon to be covered over by the rank vegetation, and
forgotten save by a few. Last year when the once young lad was the Chief of the district, he determined to remove the relic to his own home yard,
and let those who wished to see it have easy access thereto. This was done, and it lies to-day as the picture portrays. 2
1
Kedging is a technique for moving or turning a ship by using a relatively light anchor.
Since 1993, the anchor has been on display at the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum in Auckland. The label of the display states that “The
anchor was presented to the Auckland War Memorial Museum by Mr H.R. Jenkins who obtained it from the Governor and Director of the Papeete
Museum. In 1993 it was loaned to the New Zealand Maritime Museum.”
2
According to the Seventy-Third Annual Report of the Auckland Institute and Museum, for 1942, which can be found here, “An exhibit of outstanding
interest was received through the generosity of Mr H. R. Jenkins. This is the historic anchor intimately associated with the ill-fated H.M.S. Bounty,
for this relic is believed to have been abandoned by Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers in 1789, when they used it as a kedge to free the
vessel from a coral shoal in the Papaea Arm of Matavia Bay, Tahiti. After generations of Tahitians had made unsuccessful attempts to raise the
anchor, it was at last recovered about 1890.”
In September 2012, the anchor was on display in the Edmiston Gallery in the Voyager New Zealand Maritime Museum. That particular gallery
contained a collection of maritime art and an exhibition about New Zealand’s nuclear free policy. The anchor was set against a small wall in a corner
of the gallery, with no other reference to the Bounty in that gallery (nor, for that matter, anywhere else in the museum). There was not even a display
label to indicate that the anchor is from the Bounty.
The fact that the anchor has been removed from Papeete to Auckland goes completely against the recommendation made by Professor Sir Geoffrey
Callender, director of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, in his letter to WWB of 18 March 1938, quoted in the article, that “Here in
England there is a strong feeling that if the anchor is accepted, as having belonged to the ‘Bounty’, it should be preserved for all time near the place
where it was discovered. Removed from its original setting, it would lose much of its intrinsic importance.” Yet four years after that letter was
written, the anchor was removed to Auckland in 1942, where it has indeed lost much of its importance.
Another of the Bounty’s anchors was found at Pitcairn by Luis Marden and raised in January 1957.
Timothy adds that his great grandfather also visited Norfolk in 1924, where a "white haired Pitcairner" gave him a lift and told him a
story of his youth about whaling with a Nobbs and a Young. He also saw a few Bounty relics, but noted that "the Island has been
combed fine by yearly round of visitors"... and that was 90 years ago.
6
FROM UK OVERSEAS TERRITORIES CONSERVATION FORUM
Pitcairn is of course not the only British Overseas territory with goat problems. UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) sent us this
story from Great Tobago Island, British
Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. (maps
thanks to UK Overseas Territories
Conservation Forum, and pictures thanks
to Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society).
95% of feral goats were removed from
Great Tobago recently, causing a
regeneration of vegetation and bird
colonies. The island is volcanic and
small, like Pitcairn, and among the birds
are found frigate birds and tropic birds,
like here.
The remainder of the Pitcairn goats are
now fenced in by their individual owners,
so we will see what impact their removal
is having on the environment.
Susan Zaluski of Jost Van Dykes
Preservation Society sent us the
following:
Feral goats were dropped on
offshore cays hundreds of years ago
by early settlers, and until recent
modern economic modernization, were actively hunted by residents in
the BVI. On 263 acre Great Tobago National Park, the problem of
overgrazing by feral livestock has become a major problem in recent
years, threatening the nesting habitat of a globally important
magnificent frigatebird population. In 2013, The National Parks Trust of
the Virgin Islands in conjunction with the Jost Van Dykes Preservation
Society, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Animal
Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency began a project that
focuses on the removal of goats from this island and is part of a broader
cross-territory invasive species project aimed at protecting native
biodiversity and is funded by the European Union's BEST programme.
Attached photographs demonstrate goat-induced erosion. The close up
photo is of a seagrape tree that was overturned and brought down the
hillside during a 2011 landslide event. The tree contains approximately 30 frigatebirds nests, some with carcasses of frigatebirds which
became entangled in the tree and were likely unable to escape.
Left: fallen tree with birds’
nests
Right: Landslide
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THE DEM TULL HALL OF FAME:
JOHN ADAMS
TIMOTHY YOUNG TULL ([email protected])
For this particular Hall of Fame entry, there is some controversy. Although John Adams was known for being the man who
ushered in the era of religion and stability for Pitcairn Island, he was not without flaws. However, he is the 2014 Pitcairner inductee into the
Dem Tull Hall of Fame.
John Adams was born in Middlesex, the third of four children, in November 1766. The family was poor, and his father died when he
was still young, forcing him to be brought up in the poorhouse. While there, Adams received some basic schooling, but he eventually went to
sea. Sometime in the late 1780's he was married to a woman called Hannah, and in late 1787 they had a daughter called Sarah. However,
Adams joined the H.M.A.V. Bounty on September 7th, 1787, fourteen days before his infant daughter was baptised. For his entire time on the
Bounty, John Adams went under the name "Alexander Smith," perhaps because he had recently deserted another ship.
While on the voyage to Tahiti, he is not mentioned in any special way, or singled out specifically, so he obviously just did his work
as a seaman without any incidents. However, not long after they landed on Tahiti, he was guarding the ship’s cutter when a gudgeon was
stolen from it. As a result, Adams was subjected to 12 lashes for being inattentive. Several notable Tahitians protested in his favour, but the
punishment was carried out nevertheless. He also contracted venereal disease, for which £0.30.0 was deducted from his pay for medication.
Though he was involved with various women, the most notable one is known as Teehuteatuaenoa, who would be later known as Jenny (and
was a previous inductee into the Hall of Fame). This relationship did, however, eventually go sour.
On the journey back to England, Adams was woken on the day of the mutiny by his shipmate John Sumner. Though initially
confused, like others on that day, he quickly joined the mutiny, reasoning in later years that he was afraid of being on the weaker side. He
was tasked with keeping the warrant officers from communicating too much in case the situation turned on the mutineers. He was
instrumental in stopping John Fryer, the ships Master, from turning the tide when Fryer tried to convince two subordinates James Morrison
and John Millward to join him in a counter-attack. All in all, the evidence points to John Adams as one of the most active mutineers.
On reaching Tahiti, Adams's new girlfriend Puara'i did not join him aboard the Bounty when they went to Tubuai. "Jenny" was
aboard, but she was now married to another seaman, Isaac Martin. On Tubuai, there was an incident involving Adams. Women from the
tribe of the hostile chief Tinnarow lured several of the men, including Adams, to their district. They were all stripped and a naked Adams
kept a prisoner at Tinnarow’s house. Fletcher Christian formed a party and marched into Tinnarow’s district, but the woman who had lured
Adams brought him to them, although he wore nothing but a shirt. Within a couple of months, the colony failed, and when the time came for
a decision to be made, Adams was one of only nine of the original crew who voted to stay with the ship. On returning to Tahiti, Puara'i had a
change of heart and joined him aboard ship.
When the Bounty reached Pitcairn in January, 1790, she was partially dismantled and an argument was brought up about
destroying the ship or completely dismantling her with the possibility of rebuilding her at a later point. Adams was one of those who
favored dismantling, but the debate was settled when Mathew Quintal set fire to the Bounty.
The two known portraits
of John Adams.
Left: by Beechey in 1824,
where he looks like a
venerable old granddad.
He was then 58.
Right: by Moerenhout in
1829, a different image,
tough and determined at
63, just before he died.
8
Life initially settled down on Pitcairn, but one of the first problems that arose, came from Adams. A dispute between him and
Christian over Adams’ hogs coming into Christian’s garden ended with Adams threatening to shoot the other man. The other European men
all bound Adams and were about to set him adrift to preserve the peace when Christian interceded on his behalf. Not long after, Adams wife
Puara'i was killed while collecting birds’ eggs. Another man, John Williams, had lost his wife to illness shortly after the Bounty had been
burnt, and the two men clamored for a wife from one of the Polynesian men. In Adams case, the wife of Edward Young, Teraura, was willing
to share her services between Adams and Young, and Adams relented, the three settling down into a shared living arrangement. Williams,
however, persisted and got an exclusive wife and subsequently intrigue and death was the result of that decision.
By 1793, Adams had taken the Polynesian Tetahiti and his wife as personal slaves. Although it is not known how he treated them,
in other cases the Europeans treated the Polynesians abominably. In October of that year the four remaining Polynesian men rose up, and in
one bloody day they slaughtered all but four of the nine European men. Adams himself was assaulted after being forewarned by Quintal’s
wife, which resulted in some fingers broken and a musket ball tearing through his shoulder. When cornered, he attempted to run off a cliff
when he was given reassurances that he was to be spared, at the request of Young who was ill and protected by the women. The two other
survivors, Quintal and William McCoy, were free but hiding in the hills. Some days later, Young and the women hatched a plan to get revenge
and once more tipped the balance of power. Adams, recovering from his wounds, was not greatly involved in the planning. Once more a
bloody incident occurred, and all the Polynesian men were violently killed.
Adams now found himself living with three widows, one of them being Mill’s widow Vahineatua, who had two children already.
With her, Adams would have three daughters, Hannah (named after his wife in England), Dinah and Rachel. This particular relationship was
not overly pleasant, since according to Vahineatua's first daughter, Adams would often beat Vahineatua. Sadly, Vahineatua was killed when
a goat gored her in her garden. Also, in the years following the massacre, there was trouble between the four men and the women, which
eventually resulted in the women trying to leave Pitcairn in a boat that the men sabotaged to keep them there. Over time, though, things
settled down, but more problems arose when the Bounty's still was used to distill liquor. The end result was that Quintal was killed in a
fight, and McCoy committed suicide by jumping from the cliffs.
In his last years, Young converted to Christianity (family records state that he was an agnostic since childhood), and taught Adams
to better read and write to the point that he learned to read the Bible. After dying of asthma in 1800, Young left Adams the sole surviving
man from the original settlers.
Depressed and drunk, Adams eventually converted as well. Though some have viewed his religious conversion with dubiousness
(an understandable stance), the fact is that he did improve life on the island as a result. Though he did rule by a kind of absolute law, which
was sometimes harsh, the island did for the first time settle down peacefully for a long period. The children were educated, or educated as
much as Adams could teach them. One incident stands out that attests to the moral strictness that Adams imposed on the community.
Edward Quintal had gotten Dinah Adams pregnant in a premarital affair, and Adams stated that they were worthy of death for their 'sin.'
However, Arthur Quintal interceded, but the two were forbidden to marry. Family records show that this incident was probably engineered
by Adams to see how others would react, and Arthur Quintal’s reaction was what he was looking for. The conclusion to this story is that the
two lovers were eventually married, with Adams's blessing. Adams settled down with one wife, Teio, who was the widow of McCoy, and she
bore him his only son George in 1804.
Left: John Adams pictured on the
village green in 1824. His shape is
what we on Pitcairn call “tumpulli”,
- short and stout.
Right: Adams’ grave close to where
his house once stood. Buried next
to him is his third wife Teio, and his
daughter Hannah Young, mother of
five Youngs who stayed behind on
Norfolk, while son Simon Young
returned to Pitcairn with his own
family and her in 1863.
Pitcairn was rediscovered by the American sealer Topaz in February 1808, and the captain Mayhew Folger, gave a positive report about the
community. So too did most who stopped by Pitcairn Island over the next couple of decades. Though the British Government learned of the
mutineer's survival, it was decided to leave him with the community he was leading. In December, 1823, the vessel Cyrus arrived, and two
9
men remained behind, John Buffet and John Evans. With Buffet’s experience and knowledge, Adams groomed him as a successor to him, and
while John Evans married Adams's daughter Rachel, Adams was none too pleased with this particular event.
A couple of years later, the H.M.S. Blossom arrived, and Adams even spent time aboard the ship, reliving his past in many ways. It
was also this ship that got the most accounts from Adams regarding the Bounty and the early events on Pitcairn. A painting of Adams by
Richard Beechey was also done at this time, one that has been used countless times during the years to illustrate the old patriarch. Before
departing, Captain F.W. Beechey also performed a marriage service for Adams and Teio, though they had been exclusive partners since the
death of Vahineatua or even before.
As the years progressed, Adams placed more responsibility on others, such as Buffet. In 1828, two more settlers arrived, Noah
Bunker and George H. Nobbs. Though Bunker would die not long after, Nobbs would go on to more or less become Adams's successor. The
following year, Pitcairn was visited by the French traveler Jaques Moerenhout. Moerenhout wrote an account of his short stay, and even
sketched a picture of Adams that looked more realistic than the one done by Beechey. Taking a couple of island men on a pearl diving
voyage, Moerenhout promised to return. When they did return, they found that Pitcairn was in the throes of an illness passed on by a
visiting whaler. Adams was extremely ill and bedridden, and according to Moerenhout spoke only in a whisper. Moerenhout departed as
Adams was on his deathbed. Adams died not long after, on March 5th, 1829, and was buried near his house.
Though many of his actions were controversial, Adams is seen as the one who brought stability to Pitcairn, and is regarded as a
patriarch to modern Pitcairn. The fact also remains that his grave is now the only one of the mutineers’ that is known today.
(For this article, many sources were used. Bounty's log, the accounts of James Morrison and John Fryer, the court martial minutes
of the Bounty mutineers, Adams's accounts as given to the various crew of the H.M.S. Blossom, one of the copies of Edward Young's journal,
the Young Archives, the accounts left by Mayhew Folger, and the account written by Jacques Moerenhout. These are to name a few of the
sources used.)
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EUROPA
One longboat close up, and the other coming
through Matt’s Rocks from the northern coast.
Cruise ship Europa visited on the 27th in perfect weather, and she anchored off Tedside, while longboats Moss and Tub ran ferry service to bring
over 300 passengers ashore for a couple of hours. When she left in the afternoon, she had Pitcairn patient Brian onboard, heading for hospital in
Tahiti once again (Dem Tull June and July). Below: Empty longboat coming alongside, and then leaving absolutely full to the brim with eager
passengers.
10
THE BACK PAGE
Some upsetting thefts have kept people talking lately. First some hundred dollars disappeared from Nadine’s house, and then
NZ$6000 were found missing from the safe in the Government Treasurer’s office. Neither the safe nor the office had signs of being
broken into, so it happened while the office was open and the GT in attendance. It has certainly made people more security aware,
and wondering that maybe their extra savings are not safe under the mattress anymore. The electronic money transfer to NZ bank
accounts have made life easier, but there was always cash sitting around as well. In response to the theft the GT office has been
remodeled to limit risk.
Pitcairn is not new to minor thefts, around the early 1900s people took each other to court at the drop of a hat (for the accuser got
part of the fine paid – as a reward), for stealing coconuts, for the loss of a newspaper, for skulking in the bush with someone not
your legal partner. The 1950s was also a busy time for local policeman Floyd and the magistrate’s court, who made sure that Mento
spent time down in the local jail after “kleptomaniac” activities. Whenever locals were missing something from their house,
whether money or small items, they only had to ask Mento, and he would bring it back. Not so anymore, 6000 dollars is huge, even
more so on Pitcairn.
Dem Tull want to thank for a few donations sent by readers to
help with Internet costs. We do appreciate it. Some suggested
that we charge subscription fees, but Julie and I decided in
2007 that we never would do that, for we felt we had
important issues to share with readers, and wanted to make it
available to as many as possible without creating barriers like
fees. Nonetheless, we do appreciate the donations as well as
suggestions, so thank you again!.
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Announcement from Maureen and Roger in Wellington re Bounty Day celebration in January next year:
It was sad to hear through the Pitcairn grapevine that Bounty Day has been cancelled due to personal
reasons. Some of us feel that bounty day should still continue as this is our heritage, (thoughts please). We are
looking at options and have thought about going back to the traditional way of getting together have sports
and sharing food picnic style as we don’t have a landing, but there are plenty of venues for this to still take
place. Some suggestions have been Waikanae pools, Queen Elizabeth Park, Aotea Lagoon, Khandallah. We
would love to hear your ideas. Please bear in mind that we will not be able to burn the Bounty on these public
sites, but can still have one with the singing and the acknowledgement of our Heritage. Ask your children
what they want, what would bring our young people out. We are also calling for anyone interested in helping
especially the younger generation. We would need some sports equipment, organising, rope etc. When
Pitcairn’s culture began it was not by one man. Christian needed the help of others to make the Mutiny
successful. We need to work collaboratively to ensure our heritage stays alive for the future generations.
If anyone is interested or would like to help you can contact Maureen on 2376758 or email: [email protected]
Hart’s et. Ef any yorly wunta tull, tulla Kari orn Pitcairn
at [email protected] or Tim in Australia on
[email protected]. Hooray
11
Timorn [email protected]. Hooray!