Mutiny on the Bounty

February 27, Wed.

The ship stopped at Pitcairn Island for a few hours but we cannot go ashore since they don’t have a dock. The sea is too rough and only 50 people live here so there are no tourist facilities. Due to steep hills most people would not be able to climb up to Adams Town, the only ‘city’ on the island.

If you have read the book or seen the movies of the Mutiny on the Bounty, this place name may sound familiar. The island was first sited and named in 1767 but its location was charted incorrectly.  In 1790 Fletcher Christian and about 11 other sailers acted out a mutiny and sent captain Bligh and half the crew adrift in a small row boat.  When Christian found this island he realized that it was charted incorrectly which would make it difficult for the British to find the mutineers.  So the 27 souls aboard the ship landed and burned the ship.  There were 9 sailors, 11 Tahitian women, 3 Tahitian men, 1 baby and 3 stowaways. They did not all get along. The land was divided unevenly and food was not plentiful.  By 1792 all the Tahitian men were dead, 7 of the sailors were killed and 1 sailor died of natural causes.  The last man alive was John Adams.  From this meager beginning the island has been inhabited (not continuously) by the descendants of Fletcher Christian’s crew.

25 of the current population of 50 people came aboard our ship to talk with us about their home and to sell handmade souvineers, honey, postcards and stamps, t-shirts, hats and books.

The area around Pitcairn and the 4 other islets in this group is the third largest marine protected area in the world at 830 square kilometers (515square miles).  The islands are no closer to each other than 40 miles and up to 360 miles. There are 9 birds and several plants that are only found on this island. A supply ship comes once every three months. They have 3 generators for power, limited internet, rely on radio to communicate with each other, grow their own vegetables, and travel the one road using ATV’s. And yet they seem to enjoy this hard life and hope to attract more people.