Pitcairn Island lies at the south-eastern extremity of a chain of islands, which, including the Society and Friendly Islands, exceed a hundred in number, many of them wholly uninhabited, and the rest but thinly peopled, all speaking the same or nearly the same language, which is also spoken by the natives of Pitcairn Island; and all of the two groups are richly clothed with the spontaneous products of nature fit for the use of man. To all these they will have, when necessity prompts them, easy means of access. No large vessels are required for an emigration of this kind; the frailest barks and single canoes have been driven hundreds of miles over the Pacific. The Pitcairners have already proceeded from the simple canoe to row-boats, and the progress from this to small decked vessels is simple and natural. They may thus at some future period, which is not at all improbable, be the means of spreading Christianity and consequently civilization throughout the numerous groups of islands in the Southern Pacific; whereas to remove them, as has been imprudently suggested, would be to devote them at once to misery and destruction. That there is no deficiency in the number and variety of plants, producing food and clothing for the use of man, will appear from the following list, which is far from being complete: INDIGENOUS _Cocos nucifera_ Cocoa-nut. _Musa Paradisiaca_ Plantains. _Musa sapientum_ Bananas. _Dioscorea sativum_ Yams. _Convolvulus batatas_ Sweet potatoes. _Arum, esculentum_ Taro Root. _Arum costatum_ Yappa. _Broussonetia papyrifera_ Cloth-tree. _Dracæna terminalis_ _Tee_-plant. _Aleurites triloba_ Doodoe. _Morinda citrifolia_ Nono. ---- Toonena, a large timber tree. _Ficus indica_ Banyan-tree. _Morus chinensis_ Mulberry. _Pandanus odoratissimus_ (?) And a great number of other indigenous plants, some of which are useful and others ornamental. INTRODUCED _Artocarpus incisa_ Bread-fruit. _Cucurbita citrullus_ Water-melons _Cucurbita pepo_ Pumpkins. _Solanum esculenlum_ Potatoes. _Nicotiana tabaccum_ Tobacco. _Citrus lemoneum_ Lemon. ---- _aurantium_ Orange. Besides these they have European peas, beans, and onions; sugar-canes, ginger, pepper, and turmeric. In fact, situated as the island is, in a temperate climate just without the tropic, and enjoying abundance of rain, there is scarcely any vegetable, with the exception of a few of the equinoxial plants, that may not be cultivated here. The zea maize, or Indian corn, would be infinitely useful both for themselves, their poultry, and their pigs.