We have received another wonderful
donation to the Museum. Belinda Cohen from NSW has sent us a CD with
photographs her grandmother Muriel Ramsay took while living on the island for a
year in 1925. Belinda says that Muriel came here for a year after her husband
died and while she doesn’t know what she did while here on the island, from the
look of her photographs she certainly led a very busy social life! If anyone
has information on Muriel’s time on the island we would love to hear from you.
Belinda also has a link to Pitcairn Island. Her great great grandfather David Ramsay
visited the island when a ship’s surgeon on the Surry when it stopped at Pitcairn in 1821. The Captain of the ship
was Thomas Raine and he recorded the visit to Pitcairn in his log, as did Dr
Ramsay. While Dr Ramsay did not go ashore he copied much of Captain Raine’s
visit into his own record of the visit. This document was left by Dr Ramsay in
the office of the firm, Raine and Ramsay, and so came into the possession of
the Raine family (of Raine and Horne Real Estate). It was then transcribed in
1961 by Jean Marginson and subsequently typed up by Belinda.
This extract is from Dr Ramsay’s
account:
“April 11th This morning the Weather cleared up, at 8
a.m. saw Pitcairn Island right ahead, altho’
55 miles dist. At 4 p.m. close up with it, and altho we saw many cultivated
spots no habitations presented themselves. We hauled our Wind intended round
the South East point, in a little while
to our great astonishment we saw the British Flag hoisted, we immediately laid
along that part of the Island, and in a few minutes after a Canoe came
alongside with two Men, who asked us in good English “How you all do” – we hove
to and they came on board. Their names were Edward Quintal and George Young –
two more Canoes also shortly came alongside in which were Donald McKay and
Charles Christian – Robert Young and Edward Young who were equally kind and
warm in their salutations – The effect which the appearance of these men had on
all of us is difficult to describe, they were quite naked except for a covering
round the middle, so neatly put on – the most delicate eye could not be
offended. – Here we saw the features of Englishmen and heard them talk in our
Native tongue and their colour was so light, that it appeared more the effect
of the sun than the Mixture of Blood. As the night was coming on we prepared to
depart, upon seeing which they begged Capt. Raine in so earnest and warm a
manner to stay the night with them and in the morning they would procure us a
good supply of Yams, bananas, etc. – that he consented to their Wishes. –
Accordingly the Gig was Lowered down and the Capt. Doctor and Mr. Powers went
on shore, in Company with the Canoes…
April
12th 1820 … 11 A.M. Cutter returned, loaded with all sorts of fruit,
bringing some Men and Women, who appeared to be very happy, the men were
pulling the Boats and the women chanting a bit of an old Song. Some few Words
of which I caught they were these “When I am single then I’m free, Love shall
never conquer me,” – the Dress of the Women was neat, it was composed of a
large piece of cloth made fast just under their bosoms and extended to below
the Knee, and their hair which was a bright black hung in curls down their back
and laid on their breasts – they were very pretty women and might have vied
with many of our beauties at home…
At
6 P.M. Captn. Raine came on board accompanied with 3 Canoes one man in them and
young Adams came in the Gig. From this time we
were engaged till 8 o’clock in talking and bidding them farewell. Their
conversation evinced a great deal of Simplicity and Innocence. They were very
happy to see us, and if we were good men and did as God bid us, we should see
each other in a far happier world, so one of them told me in a very feeling
manner, but, added he, if you do not love God and do as the Bible bidde (sic)
you you go to a very bad place – all fire. – As they were in want of books we
contrived to give them as many as we could spare, several spelling books,
Prayer Books, Bibles and Tracts etc., were what best suited them.- At 8 P.M. we
lowered down their canoes and gave them three cheers, and which they returned
with all the cheerfulness possible. As Captn. Raine was kind enough to let me
see the Acct. he had drawn up of his “Welcome” on shore and his remarks on them
and on the Island I took the opportunity of
gaining his liberty to make a copy of it. Thinking it would highly amuse my
dear Friends at home, and if they enjoy the reading of it as much as I did on
seeing these people – I shall be double paid for my trouble in copying it.-
(from Captain Raine’s log)
…As
soon as we got into the House we found the Women had not been idle, by the fine
supper we saw provided viz – a fine large roasted pig, Yams, bananas, etc. and
a pleasant beverage made from the Cocoa nut
tree.
Old
Adams I was glad to find had felt himself so
much revived as to be enabled to join us. When these good people who knew not
how to express their joy with their company, having seated us all round at
table… they then spread some plantain leaves on the floor and they sat down in
a ring for their supper also, leaving two or three of the women to attend upon
us.- thus being all seated - Adams said
Grace for our table and one of them for theirs… Supper being finished before
anyone arose Grace was again said as I before remarked, they were as cheerful
as possible. The women now entertained us with an Otaheitean Dance in which the
expression of the eyes and the movement of the hands have the greatest share…
On
retiring to Bed they all assembled but at their own Habitations, sang a Psalm
and said their Prayers, concluded with a Hymn and then an end to Mirth. We were
provided with very comfortable Beds in a room upstairs, about 25 ft. long and
15 broad – in a corner of which stood a Bed place, the Bed consisted of dry
leaves very soft and comfortable, and the sheets were Otaheitean cloth – which
answered the purpose extremely well….
At
present many of them read very well and are very fond of it – for they
frequently took their Bibles up, and we heard them read several chapters – none
of them can write, nor do I think they ever will, unless someone remains with
them to teach them – altho’ Adams can write, he is now too old to undertake to
teach them. In this conversation with Young his Brothers joined and they all
repeatedly expressed “that we wish to do what is right and suppose this Man
come we pay great attention and do everything he tells us – two years now since
we heard this Man coming, so we think now he never come.” – I told them when I
went home I would do my best to get one sent out to them, when they said in
great joy “oh you good Captain you never forget us we never forget you”.-
The
simplicity and genuine goodness so manifest in all these poor fellows conduct
and expressions filled me with Admiration.- to one another was such brotherly
affection evinced – such a willingness to comply with each other’s wishes that
quarrelling appeared almost impossible. This remark I made to Adams who
confirmed it by saying they were the happiest people in the world he thought –
for as we then saw them so they always were, and one of their greatest
pleasures is having an opportunity in doing good to each other…In their
conversation they were always anxious for information on the Scriptures and
expressed their sorrow they did not understand all they read.
The
following is a list of the ships which have touched at this Island since the
settlement of Adams. The Topaz Captn Folger –
an American, his was the first vessel they had communication with for Adams
told our Captain that some years before this they saw two vessels, one passed
the Island, the other landed and cut some Wood
and procured some Water. He thinks this last one knew of the inhabitants, but
had no communication. The next was the English frigate Britton – 1814.- The
Sutton, American – Hercules, an English country Ship.- The Elizabeth English,
South Seaman which vessel touched here twice, and the Stanton, American Whaler
and lastly ourselves in the Surry, making in all Seven Ships in the course of
Thirty Years”.
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