PITCAIRN ISLAND. Due of the Most ca.t erh the Pssluesian islands, and the +11(.t member of the Low It lie's in the Paeifie Ocean, in latitude 25' 3' 8. and longi tude 130' iS' W., is about 2 miles long and 1 mile broad. and consists of :t mountain surrounded by coral reefs. Pitcairn was discovered by Car t;-ret in 1707, but remained uninhabited till 1790. when it. Was ?ettled by a company consisting of nine mutineers from II. 31. S. Bounty ('see Edit,n. WILLIAM ) , and 1S natives from Tahiti— II men and 12 women. During the ten year's fol lowing their settlement the island was a scene of Ii. oiler' and lawlessness. In the year 1808 the sole survivors of the original settlers were one Englishman by the name of John Adams (former ly Alexander ; mith1, S or t) women, and several children, the rest having fallen victims to disease and violence. The elements of disorder having been removed, the island began to grow under the wise management of Adams. in 1805 Pitcairn
was visited by an American "Waling ship. and in 1815 by 11.31.5. Britain, whose captain was very favorably impressed with the peace and good order prevailing on the island. In 1839 it was for mally taken possession of for the British Crown. and in 1855. when the number of inhabitants had reached 200. which was more than the island could maintain, they petitioned the British tlov ernment to be removed to Norfolk island (q.v.). whieh was in the following year. Since then some of them have returned to Pitcairn, whose present population is about 125. Consult Murray. Pitcairn /s/and ( London, 1885) ; /:ar row. .1/iitiny of the 15:31); Brodie, l'iteairn's island (London, )850).