SEARCH
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
PARTS:
Part 1
Part 2
Prev | Current Page 5 | Next

Twain, Mark

"The Great Revolution In Pitcairn"

Adams had long ago hoisted the British flag and constituted his island an appanage of the British crown.


? ? ? ? To-day the population numbers ninety persons -sixteen men, nineteen women, twenty-five boys, and thirty girls -- all descendants of the mutineers, all bearing the family names of those mutineers, and all speaking English, and English only. The island stands high up out of the sea, and has precipitous walls. It is about three-quarters of a mile long, and in places is as much as half a mile wide. Such arable land as it affords is held by the several families, according to a division made many years ago. There is some livestock -- goats, pigs, chickens, and cats; but no dogs, and no large animals. There is one church building -used also as a capitol, a schoolhouse, and a public library. The title of the governor has been, for a generation or two, "Magistrate and Chief Ruler, in subordination to her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain." It was his province to make the laws, as well as execute them. His office was elective; everybody over seventeen years old had a vote -- no matter about the sex.


Pages:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25