ten of the mutineers were left. The other eight went on board the ship which was commanded by a sailor called Christian. Having taken several natives of Otaheite on board, and among them a number of women, they set sail, and proceeded in a northerly direction. For twenty years afterwards, nothing was known or heard of this ship, or the people on board. As soon as news of the mutiny reached England, the government sent a ship to Otaheite, to see if the mutineers could be found. On the arrival of the ship, fourteen out of the sixteen that were there, were taken. Four of these were lost at sea, the other ten were carried to England, and tried before a court. Three of them were condemned and hung, and the other seven were released.

But what became of Christian, and the eight sailors, and the Otaheitans that were with them? For more than twenty years, as I said before, nothing was known of them. But, at length two British vessels chanced to fall in

with Pitcairn's island. As they had always supposed it to be uninhabited, they were not a little astonished to observe, as they came near to it, plantations regularly laid out, and houses much neater than any they had seen in these regions.

When they were about two miles from the shore, they saw some of the natives coming off to them in boats; the sea ran very high, but the people fearlessly dashed through the waves, and came near the ships. The surprise of the English captains was unbounded, when one of the natives called out in English, "Won't you heave us a rope?"

In a few moments one of them came on board, and explained what seemed so mysterious. Christian and his companions went to Pitcairn's island. They married the Otaheite women, and had lived there ever since. They had a good many children, and the young man who first came aboard, was one of them. His name was Thursday October Christian, he was

the first born on the island. He was a very handsome young man, and looked more like an Englishman than like the Otaheitans.

Several others came on board and breakfasted with the English captains. Before breakfast, they all knelt down, and asked a blessing of God; and after the meal was done, they again knelt, and returned thanks to Heaven. They had been taught to do so by their fathers.

These young men saw many things on board the ship, at which they were very much surprised. Among other things that excited their wonder, was a cow; they had never seen one before, and did not know what to make of it. They concluded it must be either a great goat, or a horned sow.

The captains now went to the island with the young natives. The inhabitants were all overjoyed to see people who spoke English, and whom they considered as their countrymen. They brought cocoa nuts, yams and other fruit, and gave them to the Englishmen. Only one

of the mutineers was alive; his name was John Adams. He was very old, and his wife was blind with age.

There were about forty-six persons. They had a pretty little village, and their houses. were very pleasant and comfortable. There were no other animals but hogs or goats on the island, but they had poultry, and a plenty of bread fruit, cocoa nuts, sweet potatoes, and turnips.

The English officers were delighted with their visit. The people appeared to be happy and virtuous. They always returned thanks to Heaven after their meals, and at sunrise it was their practice to unite in prayer. The old sailor, Adams, watched over and governed them, and they looked upon him as their common father and benefactor.

This old man expressed his abhorrence of the crime he had committed, in being concerned in the mutiny. He knew that if he went to England, he might be tried and executed, but such was his desire to see his native country

once more, that he proposed to go with the captains to England. They were willing to take him, but when he asked the consent of the islanders, they burst into tears and besought him not to leave them. The old man was much affected, and told his people that, such being their feelings, he would not go. So after giving them some books and other things, the English captains bade the islanders farewell, and sailed on their voyage.*

*

CHAPTER XI.

About the Society islands. About Otaheite and the Missionaries. The Friendly islands. Navigator's isles. Caroline isles. Ladrones. About Polynesia.

To the northwest of Pitcairn's island, is a group called the Society islands. They are eight in number, and their names are Otaheite, Huaheine, Ulietea, Otaha, Bolabola, Mamaa, Toobouai, and Tabooyamano. Otaheite, the

News has lately been received, that Adams died a short time since, of old age.