Pardon My Norfuk

The language spoken by the descendants of Bounty mutineers on Norfolk Island has been recognized by UNESCO as both unique and endangered. The language derives from "Pitkern," itself based on the 18th-century English spoken by Bounty crewmen and the Tahitian spoken by their island brides.

To outsiders the creole, known as Norfuk, is almost incomprehensible, although pronouncing words slowly helps untangle their meaning. "Daad'wieh" means "that's the way" and "daaset" is "that's it".

Other words are from archaic English: "food" translates as "wattles", derived from "victuals". The word "children" has morphed into "sillen".

Alice Buffett, a seventh generation islander who has written a Norfuk text book and dictionary, said the pupils were enjoying learning phrases such as "Whataway yorle?" ("How are you?") and "El duu f'mada" ("They'll do for dumplings"). [Link]

If you don't like the dumplings, say "Car do far dorg et." Check out this site to hear the language spoken.

An Unusual Christian Birth

The oddest thing happened last month on remote Pitcairn Island: for only the second time in 21 years, a baby was born.

Adrianna Tracey Christian, born on March 3, is Nadine Christian's fourth child and a ninth generation descendant of Fletcher Christian, the Bounty mutineer who settled the Pacific island in 1790.

Because of the difficulty of getting medical treatment on the isolated, inaccessible island, for the past 21 years the island's women - with the exception of Mrs Christian - have travelled to New Zealand to give birth, leaving Pitcairn six months into their pregnancy and making the long journey by boat and plane. [Link]

The Weakest Link in the Chain Gang

Bartholomew Taylor was never a master of his trade, but Tony Burke is still proud of his convict ancestor.

We were originally told he was sent out to Australia for "stealing arms" and presumed he must have been part of the armed resistance against British rule in Ireland.

It wasn't until my sister started searching the family tree and got hold of the original documents that we discovered the arms he was stealing were spelt "alms".

That's right, he was taking money from the poor box at the local church.

Bartholomew later spent ten years imprisoned on Norfolk Island for stealing jewelry.

One night in The Rocks he walked past a police officer who snapped at him: "Don't you know to tip your hat when you pass an officer of the law?"

So he lifted his hat and the jewellery fell out. [Link]

Christians Reproduce on Remote Island

Norfolk Island in the South Pacific is a sort of genealogical anomaly. About a third of its 1,900 residents can trace their ancestry to 194 descendants of Fletcher Christian and his Bounty mutineers who outgrew Pitcairn Island and settled on Norfolk on June 8, 1856.

The handful of surnames brought by the Pitcairners are shared by so many islanders that the local telephone directory lists people by nickname, including Cane Toad, Onion, Dar Bizziebee, Kik Kik, Mutty, Lettuce Leaf and Carrots. [Link]

Pitcairn Island is now so sparsely populated that the residents can be listed on one small webpage.