Lieutenant Edward Belcher (assistant-suveyor[errata 1]), who was admitted to be the most active among the officers on board, and who did not consider himself behind-hand in such exploits, offered to accompany one of the natives down a difficult descent, in spite of the warnings of his friends that he was unequal to the task. They, however, commenced the perilous descent, but Mr. Belcher was obliged to confess his inability to proceed, while his companion, perfectly assured of his own footing, offered him his hand, and undertook to conduct him to the bottom, if he would depend on him for safety.
“In the water they are almost as much at home as on land, and can remain nearly a whole day in the sea. They frequently swam round their little island, the circuit of which is at the least seven miles. When the sea beat heavily on the island, they have plunged into the breakers, and swam to sea beyond them. This they sometimes did pushing a barrel before them, when it could be got off in no other way, and in this manner we procured several tons of water without a single cask being stove. The women are nearly as muscular as the men, and taller than the generality of their sex. Polly Young, who is not the tallest upon the island, measured five feet nine inches and a half. Accustomed to perform all domestic duties, to provide wood for cooking, which is there a work of some labour, and sometimes to till the ground, their strength is in proportion to their muscularity; and they are no less at home in the water than the men.”
In the equipment of the Blossom, a decked barge was built purposely for her by Mr. Peeke of Woolwich dock-yard, upon a model highly creditable to his professional ability, and finished in the most complete manner. As the ship was now about to enter a sea crowded with islands which rise abruptly to the surface, without any soundings to give warning of their vicinity, this little vessel was likely to be of the greatest service, not only in a minute examination of the shore, but, by being kept a-head during the night, to give notice of any danger that might lie in her route. She was accordingly equipped, provisioned for six weeks, and the command of her given to Mr. Thomas Elson, formerly master of the Adventure; an able officer, having with him Mr. Richard Brydges Beechey, midshipman, and a crew of eight seamen and marines.
About ninety miles to the northward of Pitcairn, there is a coral formation, which has been named Oeno Island, after a whale-ship, whose master supposed that it had not before been seen ; though the discovery belongs to Mr. Henderson, the
Errata:
- ↑ Correction: suveyor should be amended to surveyor
