Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason the Pitcairn governing council is not overly concerned about the island's declining population?
What is the primary reason the Pitcairn governing council is not overly concerned about the island's declining population?
- They receive numerous inquiries from people wanting to live on the island. (correct)
- The island's resources are becoming scarce, and a smaller population is easier to sustain.
- The island's economy is thriving, and a smaller workforce leads to higher wages.
- The older inhabitants prefer a quieter life and discourage new residents.
Why do ships have to anchor about a mile offshore from Pitcairn Island?
Why do ships have to anchor about a mile offshore from Pitcairn Island?
- To avoid disturbing the peace and quiet of the islanders.
- The waters closer to shore are too shallow for large vessels.
- The island's steep cliffs and lack of harbors make it impossible for ships to come to land. (correct)
- To prevent the spread of diseases from the outside world.
What do Pitcairn Islanders primarily trade with crews from passing ships?
What do Pitcairn Islanders primarily trade with crews from passing ships?
- Wooden carvings and woven baskets for currency.
- Land and property rights for valuable resources.
- Manufactured tools and equipment for modern technology.
- Fish, fruits, and vegetables for canned goods and staples. (correct)
How are goods obtained from passing ships distributed among the families on Pitcairn Island?
How are goods obtained from passing ships distributed among the families on Pitcairn Island?
What is a reason some young people leave Pitcairn Island, despite its idyllic setting?
What is a reason some young people leave Pitcairn Island, despite its idyllic setting?
What historical event is Pitcairn Island most famously associated with?
What historical event is Pitcairn Island most famously associated with?
What does the document called 'Licence to Land and Reside' control on Pitcairn Island?
What does the document called 'Licence to Land and Reside' control on Pitcairn Island?
What contributes to the formidable task of getting from the longboat to a ship during rough weather?
What contributes to the formidable task of getting from the longboat to a ship during rough weather?
What is a 'memento' in the context of the interactions between Pitcairn Islanders and passing ships?
What is a 'memento' in the context of the interactions between Pitcairn Islanders and passing ships?
What might explain the disproportionate fascination the outside world has with Pitcairn Island?
What might explain the disproportionate fascination the outside world has with Pitcairn Island?
Flashcards
Pitcairn Island's Origins
Pitcairn Island's Origins
Island settled in 1789 by Fletcher Christian and mutineers from the Bounty, along with Tahitians.
Licence to Land and Reside
Licence to Land and Reside
Official entry document required to live on Pitcairn Island, rarely issued due to the islanders' desire to avoid being swamped by new residents.
Bounty replicas
Bounty replicas
Refers to the carvings and baskets made by the islanders, particularly intricately carved replicas, sold to passing ships for hundreds of dollars.
Sporadic ships' visits
Sporadic ships' visits
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Staples on Pitcairn
Staples on Pitcairn
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Humdrum Existence
Humdrum Existence
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Diversions on Pitcairn
Diversions on Pitcairn
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Tumult of the modern world.
Tumult of the modern world.
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Study Notes
- Pitcairn Island offers a remote tropical lifestyle with minimal crime and no cars, making it a real-life paradise for its inhabitants.
- Before 1789, Pitcairn was uninhabited.
- Fletcher Christian and eight mutineers from the Bounty, along with eighteen Tahitians, settled Pitcairn Island in 1789.
- The island's population grew to over two hundred by the late 1800s but has since decreased to fewer than fifty.
- Despite a declining population, the governing council isn't overly concerned and rarely grants the "Licence to Land and Reside" due to the fear of being overwhelmed by new residents.
- Life on Pitcairn is relaxed, with comfortable weather year-round and enough water.
- Crops like sweet potatoes, melons, bananas, and coffee flourish in the island's fertile soil.
- Older residents spend their time fishing, growing vegetables, and crafting wooden carvings and woven baskets.
- Visits from ships en route from the Panama Canal to New Zealand are highly anticipated, as the island lacks harbors and ships must anchor offshore.
- Islanders gather in Adamstown to watch the forty-foot longboat meet arriving ships to trade supplies and sell souvenirs.
- Transferring from the pitching longboat to the ship via rope ladder is challenging, requiring agility.
- Carvings and baskets, especially replicas of the Bounty, are popular items among the ships' crews, fetching hundreds of dollars based on the carver's skill.
- Ship visits are sporadic, occurring weeks or months apart, prompting Pitcairners to trade local produce for essential canned goods and staples.
- Goods acquired from ships are equally distributed among the island's families to ensure everyone has necessities.
- Young people often feel restricted by the lack of opportunities and believe living outside the island would be more exciting.
- Opportunities for jobs and entertainment are limited on Pitcairn.
- Historically, Pitcairn had strict moral codes, prohibiting public displays of affection and dancing.
- While some young people leave the island, many eventually return.
- Pitcairn, a small volcanic island less than two square miles inhabited by nine families, holds significant interest for the outside world, evidenced by over 2,500 books and articles.
- The island has a dramatic past, originating in April 1789 when Fletcher Christian and mutinous crew members seized control of the Bounty from Captain Bligh.
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