DOCSLIB.ORG

Trove of Old Post Office Photos from Pitcairn New Zealand Postal

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Trove of Old Post Office Photos from Pitcairn New Zealand Postal THE PITCAIRN LOG Vol. 4, No. 2 Page ...... April 204 Vol. 4, No. 2 April - June 204 Whole No. 63 Trove of old post office photos from Pitcairn New Zealand Postal Agency era to 1940s post office. ISSN: 0888-675X Page 2 ...... April 204 Vol. 4, No. 2 THE PITCAIRN LOG Vol. 4, No. 2 -- Whole Number 63 April - June 204 STUDY GROUP OFFICERS CONTENTS PRESIDENT Officers, Contents ............................................................ 2 Dr. Vernon N. Kisling, Jr. President’s Message, by Dr. Vernon N. Kisling Jr. ......... 3 P.O. Box 1511 Pitcairn’s Definitive Issues, by Wilfred Bloom ............. 4-6 High Springs, FL 32655 USA email: [email protected] Early Pitcairn photos .................................................... 7-9 VICE PRESIDENT Unique box made by John Buffett finds its way to the Mr. Steve Pendleton Pitcairn Museum, by Kari Young .............................. 0-11 3006 Mary Avenue West Pitcairn Trivia, by Barbara Kuchau ................................ 11 Visalia, CA 93277 USA email: [email protected] SECRETARY What should PISG’s position be vis-à-vis the Pitcairn Mr. Ed Morgan Islands Philatelic Bureau? by Steve Pendleton ......... 2-3 26 St. Julians Ct. What are the print quantities for Pitcairn stamps, and how Pawleys Island, SC 29585-6309 USA email: [email protected] many are sent to the island? by Mark Butterline ........... 3 INTERIM TREASURER Seeking information on John Samuel ............................ 3 Mr. Mark A. Butterline Ted Cookson interviews Bradley W. Brunsell ..........4-5 6 Carbone Circle Pitcairn Trivia Answers, by Barbara Kuchau ............... 5 Maynard, MA 01754 USA email: [email protected] Interim Treasurer’s Report, by Mark Butterline ............ 6 DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE New Issues (Ship Landing Point) ................................. 7 Mr. Ron Edwards Looking Back .................................................................. 7 P.O. Box 94 Hallam, Vic. 3803 AUSTRALIA email: [email protected] Is it time for a stamp for lost Bounty? by Steve Pendleton ..8 Mr. Jerry Jensen Email addresses of our membership ............................. 8 10900 Ewing Avenue South Secretary’s Report, by Ed Morgan .................................. 9 Bloomington, MN 55431 USA email: [email protected] Classifieds ....................................................................... 9 Mrs. Barbara Kuchau Advertising ..................................................................... 20 15411 97th Dr. Live Oak, FL 32060-6816 USA email: [email protected] PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Visit us on the web at Dr. Everett L. Parker www.pisg.net 249 NW Live Oak Place Lake City, FL 32055-8906 USA email: [email protected] The Pitcairn Log is published in ARCHIVIST January, April, July, and October. Mr. Jerry Jensen It is the official publication of the (Address above) Pitcairn Islands Study Group, APS REPRESENTATIVE which was founded in the U.S. in 1973. Dr. Vernon N. Kisling, Jr. American Philatelic Society Affiliate No. 46. (Address above) ATA REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Wendy Niem Membership is available in two categories: REGU- 6325 B Avenue LAR and CONTRIBUTING. The fees are: REGU- Otter Rock, OR 97369 USA email: [email protected] LAR, $20 per year in the U.S. and Canada and $25 AUCTION COORDINATOR Dr. Everett L. Parker per year elsewhere; CONTRIBUTING, $30 per year (Address above) or more. The Pitcairn Log is sent First Class Interna- IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT tional to non-U.S. members and by Standard Class to Mr. Ted Cookson U.S. members. An emailed pdf version is available 3501 Keyser Avenue, Villa 38 for $18 per year. Opinions expressed are those of the Hollywood, FL 33021-2402 USA email: [email protected] authors and not necessarily those of PISG. Advertis- WEBMASTER Mr. Mark A. Butterline ing is available at $50 per full page, $25 per half page, 6 Carbone Circle and $15 per quarter page, per issue. Contact the Pub- Maynard, MA 01754 USA email: [email protected] lications Editor for additional information. THE PITCAIRN LOG Vol. 4, No. 2 Page 3 ...... April 204 President’s Message By Dr. Vernon N. Kisling Jr. would first like to mention how much I appreci- It was decided to publish the extensively revised ate the variety of articles we had in the firstPit - PISG specialized stamp catalog as an online edition. I cairn Log of this new year, as well as the variety If you have provided PISG with your email address of authors who have contributed to our PISG jour- you should have received a PDF version of the cata- nal. Also, a big thank you to our Publication Editor, log. While publications can be a good source of in- Everett Parker. I encourage our PISG members to come for small societies like ours (if enough copies contribute articles on Pitcairn topics of interest to can be sold), members do not like to constantly pay you, as I am sure they will be of interest to the other for revised updates -- or have to buy another entire members. We are also interested in articles about catalog, as was the case with this edition due to the Norfolk Island, whose first civilian settlers were extensive number of revisions and corrections that Pitcairn islanders. were needed. It was decided that this new edition Please note some slight, but necessary by-laws would therefore be published online as a member changes. The biggest change is the elimination of service, even though this meant the many black the PISG library due to a lack of use. I would like and white stamp illustrations could not be included. to thank Jerry Jensen for operating the library these However, some new color illustrations are included many years. Jerry is one of our PISG Directors and and all Pitcairn stamps are illustrated on the Pitcairn was part of the discussion about the library. Jerry Islands Philatelic Bureau website. continues as our PISG Archivist. For books, articles PISG also has the Pitcairn Log (1973-2011) or documents on Pitcairn, I would suggest contact- available on disc in PDF format and the PISG/UK ing the Pitcairn Islands Study Center or the Ameri- Log (1991-2012) is available on disc in PDF format can Philatelic Research Library (if you are a mem- as well. These also include searchable indexes. A ber of APS). five disc set is available covering the Bounty-Pit- Several member services have come and gone cairn Conference 2012, the current Pitcairn Log over the years. Good ideas for services and activi- is available online, and the Pitcairn Miscellany is ties sometimes lose steam after a number of years available online. See the January-March Pitcairn due to declining participation from PISG members. Log for information on these resources. Other PISG We will continue to develop services and activities publications remain out of print for the time being. of interest to our members, but if they are not be- Finally, I would like to ask all our members to ing used they will be discontinued. If you have any encourage anyone with an interest in Pitcairn or the suggestions for new or improved services or activi- HMAV Bounty saga to join PISG. Increasing, or ties, just let any of our PISG Officers or Directors even maintaining, membership in small societies is know. a widespread problem and a difficult one to over- I am looking forward to our PISG table and come, so any help to increase our membership will meeting at the Saint Louis Stamp Expo in March be greatly appreciated. (of course, by the time you read this it will have al- ready taken place). With an emphasis on the British Commonwealth, many related philatelic societies will be in attendance so it should be an interesting Deadlines for the Log: and fun stamp exhibition. It will be great to meet January issue: November 1 with our past presidents and other members who are April issue: February 1 able to attend (note: without a quorum this will be July issue: May 1 an unofficial meeting). October issue: August 1 Page 4 ...... April 204 Vol. 4, No. 2 THE PITCAIRN LOG Pitcairn’s Definitive Issues Do we need them and do they really serve a purpose? An opinion piece by Wilfred Bloom of the USA Background of the monarch in various colors. Now, here comes itcairn Island has been issuing its own post- little Pitcairn Island, a two-square-mile piece of vol- age stamps since 1940 – that’s a full 100 canic rock in the middle of the Pacific, whose muti- Pyears after Great Britain’s famous “Penny neer-descendant population was less than any office Black” was issued to pay the fee for having a letter building in England, and now they need their own delivered. In that time, the island has issued 11 per- stamps? Many islanders had nobody to write to, yet manent issues, or “definitive sets.” These sets have here they were, issuing this absolutely beautiful set consisted of between eight and 13 stamps each, and of eight stamps, recess-printed in London by Brad- have shown facets of island life, artifacts, fish, ships, bury Wilkinson, and Waterlow birds, flowers, and details from HMAV Bounty on and Sons, with a face value of the current issue from 2007. 4/8d (48¢).Outrageous! In addition, Pitcairn has issued numerous com- It seems that those detractors memorative issues, consisting of one to six stamps, got their money’s worth out of and, from 1974 onwards, have complemented these this issue. The KGVI set was with souvenir sheets, or miniature sheets, of one to on sale for almost 17 years, four stamps. Often, these small sheets have been the being supplemented by a 4d Second Definitive only issue of a particular event, the first of which and 8d value (increased postal Series was the 1978 Coronation 25th Anniversary sheet. rates) in 1951, and being replaced by a Queen Eliza- Face value was $1.20 (Scott #177, Stanley Gibbons beth II (QEII) set in 1957, more than five years after #MS189).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • In the Pitcairn Islands Supreme Court T 1/2011 In
    IN THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS SUPREME COURT T 1/2011 IN THE MATTER under the Constitution of Pitcairn and the Bill of Rights 1688 AND IN THE MATTER OF a challenge to the vires of parts of the Pitcairn Constitution being ultra vires the Bill of Rights 1688 AND IN THE MATTER OF a constitutional challenge and the refusal of the Magistrates Court to refer a constitutional challenge to the Supreme Court and the failure of the Supreme Court to consider an appeal from the Magistrates Court AND CP 1/2013 IN THE MATTER OF a judicial review of the Attorney General and Governor BETWEEN MICHAEL WARREN Applicant/Appellant AND THE QUEEN Respondent Hearing: 07 to 11 and 14 to 17 April 2014; 01 August 2014; 23 September 2014 Appearances: Kieran Raftery and Simon Mount for the Crown Tony Ellis and Simon Park (on 23 September 2014) for Applicant/Appellant Judgment: 28 November 2014 ______________________________________________________________________ JUDGMENT OF HAINES J ______________________________________________________________________ This judgment was delivered by me on 28 November 2014 at 10 am pursuant to the directions of Haines J Deputy Registrar Table of Contents Para Nr Introduction [1] Course of the hearing [11] The application for a stay on the grounds of abuse of process – the self- determination claim The submission [19] The right to self-determination – sources [22] Ius cogens [24] Internal self-determination – treaty obligations of the UK – the Charter of the United Nations [32] Internal self-determination – treaty obligations of the UK –
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    Darwin Initiative Final Report To be completed with reference to the Reporting Guidance Notes for Project Leaders (http://darwin.defra.gov.uk/resources/) it is expected that this report will be a maximum of 20 pages in length, excluding annexes) Darwin project information Project reference 20-006 Project title A sustainable marine and fisheries management plan for the Pitcairn islands Host country(ies) Pitcairn Islands Contract holder institution King’s College London Partner institution(s) University of Dundee, Natural Resources Division - Government of Pitcairn Island, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Sea-Scope Marine Environmental Consultants. Darwin grant value £249,946 Start/end dates of project September 2013 – March 2017 (no-cost extension awarded) Project leader’s name Professor Terence Peter Dawson Project 1. http://www.pitcairnenvironment.org.pn/ websites/blog/Twitter 2. http://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-and-overseas- territories/pitcairn-islands-marine-conservation 3. http://www.marinereservescoalition.org/resources/blog/ Report author(s) and date Terry Dawson, Heather Koldewey, Robert Irving, Michele Christian, June 2017. 1 Project Rationale Given their extremely isolated location and difficulties of access, the Pitcairn Islands’ marine habitats are one of the UKOTs least known ecosystems (Figure 1). Scientific evidence for fish- eries management of Pitcairn’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remains insufficient for deci- sion-making, as highlighted by the PEMP report (Smyth, 2009) and confirmed by our Challenge Fund report (2012). Global fishing pressures on migratory species, especially tuna and billfish, had, since the turn of the century, resulted in commercial fishing fleets increasingly approaching the Pitcairn Government to lease their fishing rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Domestic Cats on Pitcairn Island
    Domestic Cats on Pitcairn Island Frederick A. Belton and Robert W. Schmieder Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 [email protected] www.cordell.org (925) 934-3735 This document describes the results of a project carried out by Cordell Expeditions, Walnut Creek, California. The authors of this report are: Frederick A. Belton 825 Fitzpatrick Road Nashville TN 37214 (615) 479-1705 [email protected] Robert W. Schmieder 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 934-3735 [email protected] Information about Cordell Expeditions can be found at: Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 [email protected] http://www.cordell.org Copyright © 2019 Cordell Expeditions This document may be freely distributed by any means, including electronically or in print, so long as the title page and all credits are not removed. However, the material within this document is protected by copyright; you may not reproduce or distribute portions without attribution, and you may not extract images for reproduction or distribution by any means, without attribution to this document, or without the written permission of Cordell Expeditions. Date of this report: 1 March 2019 Page ii Abstract This document presents the results of a study of Felis catus, the domestic cat, on Pitcairn Island. The paper contains three major parts: A comprehensive review of the history of domestic cats on Pitcairn, starting with the introduction of cats to Tahiti in 1767 Results from a field study carried out by the authors in May-June, 2018, using a trail camera, personal observations, and interviews with Pitcairners Analysis of the dynamics of human-cat-rat interactions, with the goal of better understanding and managing the future of cats on the island Major conclusions that emerged from this study include: Cats most likely were introduced to Pitcairn by the Bounty mutineers in 1790 and probably have been present continuously since then.
    [Show full text]
  • Approved Council Special Public Meeting Notes
    W FILT COPY W PITCAIRN ISLAND C'UNCTL Minutes of the Special Public Meeting held at the Public H{! . Commencing at l0.00am 25th NIay 2018 Presenl: Mayor Shawn Christian, Depufy Mayor Charlene Warren-Peu, Cr Darralyn Griffiths. Cr Kevin Young, Temporary lsland Secretary Nadine Christian, Administrator Nicola Hebb In attendance: Covernor Laura Clarke Apolosies: Cr Sue O'Keefe, Cr L Jaques, Cr Michele Christian Gallerry: Simon Young, Dennis Cliristian, Vaine Peu, Daphne Warien, Carol Warren, Mike Warren, Royal Warren, Melva Evans, Kay-Anna Lawson, Jayden Warren-Peu, I(imiora Wanen-Peu, Mike Lupton-Christian, Max Taylor, Jay Warren, Turi Griffiths, Meralda Warren .,:,1 Welcome:TlreDeputyMayoropenedther1ee(ingwithaprayer. The Governor Laura Clarke , Administrator The GoVernor re-iirtroduced herself to the communitv Nicola Hebb and Mayor met with the ,rand reiterai.d,ho* *onderful it was to be on island and community. meeting with the, Community. She thanked the communit5l for rnaking lter and her husband so welcome.',,. ;,.Governor Clarke spoke on her meeting at a recent South tPapific,,Cohference at New Caledonia, and noted that represijnting Pitcairn had brought home to her the value ,:of Pitcairn's presence in the South Pacific, including as the UK's only remaining OT in the Pacific. HMG values and recognises this unique position. Governor Clarke noted that dynamics and communication between HMG and Council had been excellent and were reflected in the progress being made in Child Safety and tlre workshops around the Future of Pitcairn for example, as well as other areas. In all, a huge amount ofprogress had been made, and she hoped to see this continue.
    [Show full text]
  • SEQUEL to a MUTINY EARLY ADVENTISM on PITCAIRN ISLAND by Milton Hook
    Booklet 8 SEQUEL TO A MUTINY EARLY ADVENTISM ON PITCAIRN ISLAND By Milton Hook Seventh-day Adventist Heritage Series SEQUEL TO A MUTINY Early Adventism on Pitcairn Island Milton Hook Produced by the South Pacific Division Department of Education 148 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, NSW 2076 A Heritage Series: Debut - Adventism Down Under before 1885 By Milton Hook ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr Milton Hook is the author of "Flames Over Battle Creek", a brief history of the early days at the Review and Herald Publishing Association as seen through the eyes of George Amadon, printer's foreman at the institution. Dr Hook's doctoral dissertation researched the pioneering years of the Avondale School, 1894to 1900, and he has published some of these findings. He spent three years as a mission director in Papua New Guinea. His teaching years include primary, secondary and college level experience, especially in Bible subjects, in Australia, New Zealand and America. He is an ordained minister, married and the father of two sons. He would welcome any information which may enhance the content of this series. ocal maps of Pitcairn Island are always marked with odd names. For example, on the north coast are found places L called "Where Dan Fall", "Johnny Fall", and "Where Freddie Fall". Pitcairners have a story attached to all these places. Their folklore tells of past dramas when their ancestors met with disaster, scrambling after wild goats on the precipitous shore line. Other place names such as "Break 'im Hip", "Down Rope", "Stinking Apple", "John Catch a Cow", "Oh Dear", "Headache", and "Bitey-Bitey" carry reminders of the islanders history.
    [Show full text]
  • Darwin Initiative Annual Report
    Darwin Initiative Annual Report Important note: To be completed with reference to the Reporting Guidance Notes for Project Leaders: it is expected that this report will be about 10 pages in length, excluding annexes Submission Deadline: 30 April Project Reference 20-006 Project Title A sustainable marine and fisheries management plan for the Pitcairn islands Host Country/ies Pitcairn Islands Contract Holder Institution University of Dundee Partner institutions Natural Resources Division, Government of Pitcairn Island, Zoological Society of London, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Sea-Scope Marine Environmental Consultants Darwin Grant Value £249,946 Start/end dates of project September 2013 – September 2016 Reporting period (eg Apr 2013 September 2013 – March 2014 – Mar 2014) and number (eg Annual Report 1 Annual Report 1, 2, 3) Project Leader name Professor Terence Dawson Project website http://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-and-overseas-territories/pitcairn- islands-marine-conservation Report author(s) and date Terry Dawson, Heather Koldewey, Robert Irving, Michelle Christian Given their extremely isolated location and difficulties of access, the Pitcairn Islands’ marine habitats are one of the UKOTs least known ecosystems (Figure 1). Scientific evidence for fisheries management of Pitcairn’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remains insufficient for decision-making, as highlighted by the PEMP report (Smyth, 2009) and confirmed by our Challenge Fund report (2012). Global fishing pressures on migratory species, especially tuna and billfish, have resulted in commercial fishing fleets increasingly approaching the Pitcairn Government to lease their fishing rights. Further, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) proposed that the Pitcairn community develop commercial reef fisheries for export to neighbouring Mangareva.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report
    [Type here] Darwin Initiative Main Project Annual Report Important note: To be completed with reference to the Reporting Guidance Notes for Project Leaders: it is expected that this report will be about 10 pages in length, excluding annexes Submission Deadline: 30 April Project Reference 20-006 Project Title A sustainable marine and fisheries management plan for the Pitcairn islands Host Country/ies Pitcairn Islands Contract Holder Institution University of Dundee Partner institutions Natural Resources Division, Government of Pitcairn Island, Zoological Society of London, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Sea-Scope Marine Environmental Consultants Darwin Grant Value £249,946 Funder (DFID/Defra) Defra Start/end dates of project September 2013 – September 2016 Reporting period (e.g., Apr April 2014 – March 2015 2015 – Mar 2016) and number Annual Report 2 (e.g., Annual Report 1, 2, 3) Project Leader name Professor Terence Dawson Project website/blog/Twitter http://www.zsl.org/regions/uk-and-overseas- territories/pitcairn-islands-marine-conservation Report author(s) and date Terry Dawson, Heather Koldewey, Robert Irving, Michel Blanc, Sue O’Keefe, 4 May 2015. Given their extremely isolated location and difficulties of access, the Pitcairn Islands’ marine habitats are one of the UKOTs least known ecosystems (Figure 1). Scientific evidence for fisheries management of Pitcairn’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remains insufficient for decision-making, as highlighted by the PEMP report (Smyth, 2009) and confirmed by our Challenge Fund report (2012). Global fishing pressures on migratory species, especially tuna and billfish, have resulted in commercial fishing fleets increasingly approaching the Pitcairn Government to lease their fishing rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Tracing the Fletcher Christian Heritage on Pitcairn
    THE PITCAIRN LOG Vol. 43, No. 3 Page 1 ...... July 2016 Vol. 43, No. 3 July - September 2016 Whole No. 172 Tracing the Fletcher Christian heritage on Pitcairn ISSN: 0888-675X Page 2 ...... July 2016 Vol. 43, No. 3 THE PITCAIRN LOG Vol. 43, No. 3 -- Whole Number 172 July - September 2016 STUDY GROUP OFFICERS PRESIDENT CONTENTS President’s Message, by Dr. Vernon N. Kisling Jr. ......... Dr. Vernon N. Kisling, Jr. 3 P.O. Box 1511 How the Panama Canal Zone and Marconi changed the High Springs, FL 32655 USA email: [email protected] lives of Pitcairners, by Julius Grigore, Jr. .....................4-5 VICE PRESIDENT Early Pitcairn letter from Jemima Young surfaces, Mr. Steve Pendleton by Denys McCoy ...........................................................6-7 3006 Mary Avenue West Pitcairn Trivia, by Barbara Kuchau ................................. 7 Visalia, CA 93277 USA email: [email protected] Documenting, Researching and Conserving Pitcairn’s SECRETARY material culture, by Janelle Blucher ............................. 8-9 Mrs. Barbara Kuchau PISG auction well received ............................................. 9 15411 97th Dr. Irma Christian has passed on Pitcairn Island .................. 9 Live Oak, FL 32060-6816 USA email: [email protected] Telephone: 386-362-6343 Enlarged Pitcairn Islands Study Center opens at TREASURER Pacific Union College in California ......................... 10-11 Mrs. Barbara Kuchau Tracing the Fletcher Christian heritage, (Address above) by Steve Pendleton ................................................... 12-14 DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Pitcairn Trivia Answers, by Barbara Kuchau ............... 12 Mr. Ron Edwards When will the vandalism end? by Cy Kitching .............. 15 P.O. Box 843 New Issues: William Shakespeare, Queen’s 90th .....16-17 Norfolk Island, NSW 2899 AUSTRALIA Looking Back .................................................................. 17 email: [email protected] Secretary’s Report, by Barbara Kuchau ........................
    [Show full text]
  • Domestic Cats on Pitcairn Island
    Domestic Cats on Pitcairn Island Frederick A. Belton and Robert W. Schmieder Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 [email protected] www.cordell.org (925) 934-3735 This document describes the results of a project carried out by Cordell Expeditions, Walnut Creek, California. The authors of this report are: Frederick A. Belton 825 Fitzpatrick Road Nashville TN 37214 (615) 479-1705 [email protected] Robert W. Schmieder 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 (925) 934-3735 [email protected] Information about Cordell Expeditions can be found at: Cordell Expeditions 4295 Walnut Blvd. Walnut Creek, CA 94596 [email protected] http://www.cordell.org Copyright © 2019 Cordell Expeditions This document may be freely distributed by any means, including electronically or in print, so long as the title page and all credits are not removed. However, the material within this document is protected by copyright; you may not reproduce or distribute portions without attribution, and you may not extract images for reproduction or distribution by any means, without attribution to this document, or without the written permission of Cordell Expeditions. Date of this report: 1 March 2019 Page ii Abstract This document presents the results of a study of Felis catus, the domestic cat, on Pitcairn Island. The paper contains three major parts: A comprehensive review of the history of domestic cats on Pitcairn, starting with the introduction of cats to Tahiti in 1767 Results from a field study carried out by the authors in May-June, 2018, using a trail camera, personal observations, and interviews with Pitcairners Analysis of the dynamics of human-cat-rat interactions, with the goal of better understanding and managing the future of cats on the island Major conclusions that emerged from this study include: Cats most likely were introduced to Pitcairn by the Bounty mutineers in 1790 and probably have been present continuously since then.
    [Show full text]
  • R.M. Ballantyne "The Lonely Island"
    R.M. Ballantyne "The Lonely Island" Chapter One. The Refuge of the Mutineers. The Mutiny. On a profoundly calm and most beautiful evening towards the end of the last century, a ship lay becalmed on the fair bosom of the Pacific Ocean. Although there was nothing piratical in the aspect of the ship—if we except her guns—a few of the men who formed her crew might have been easily mistaken for roving buccaneers. There was a certain swagger in the gait of some, and a sulky defiance on the brow of others, which told powerfully of discontent from some cause or other, and suggested the idea that the peaceful aspect of the sleeping sea was by no means reflected in the breasts of the men. They were all British seamen, but displayed at that time none of the well-known hearty off- hand rollicking characteristics of the Jack-tar. It is natural for man to rejoice in sunshine. His sympathy with cats in this respect is profound and universal. Not less deep and wide is his discord with the moles and bats. Nevertheless, there was scarcely a man on board of that ship on the evening in question who vouchsafed even a passing glance at a sunset which was marked by unwonted splendour. The vessel slowly rose and sank on a scarce perceptible ocean-swell in the centre of a great circular field of liquid glass, on whose undulations the sun gleamed in dazzling flashes, and in whose depths were reflected the fantastic forms, snowy lights, and pearly shadows of cloudland.
    [Show full text]