Revised Jun 19 2021
March 26th. Strong breezes from the S.E. and squally with much rain; no vessel in sight, the weather being very thick and hazy. Employed myself as yesterday.
Two stone axes and two stone spear-heads were give me, which had belonged to the natives who had lived upon this island previously to the arrival of the Bounty. Mr. Nobbs sent two of his children out into the bush to look for land shells. In the course of a few hour they returned, but with only three sorts, which were all that appeared to have been seen upon the island by any of the inhabitants.
I must now mention a circumstance that was told me this day, and which took place on board the ship Pilgrim, bound from Auckland, New Zealand, to California, as an illustration of the feeling which prevails among these islanders. The passengers were preparing to go on shore to visit the island in the quarter boat, and very foolishly croweded into her before she was lowered down from the davits. The consequence was that one davit gave way, so that the boat was towed along at an angle of forty-five degrees by the other. Some of the passengers clung to the boat; others who could swim, asisted those who could not. But in the confusion a child was lost sight of, and must have perished, had it not been fortunately observed by one of the islanders just as it was sinking, who immediately jumped off the poop of the vessel, dived after the child, and brought it up safe.
The father of the child came up from below with both hands filled with dollars, which he pressed on the acceptance of the man who had done him so great a service; but without success, for he steadily refused to accept any remuneration for what he considered a simple act of duty. This same man, be it remembered, had come on board for the express purpose of making money by the disposal of his produce, so that the nice distinction which he drew as to the means of acquiring it, deserves to be only the more highly appreciated.