Inhabited by descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and more recent Australian migrants, Norfolk Island lies 1,400 km (869 miles) east of Australia. The islanders speak a hybrid language, mixing West Country English, Gaelic and ancient Tahitian. They enjoy a fair degree of autonomy, and in 1991 rejected a plan to become part of the Australian federal state. Tourists, attracted by the climate and unique flora, have brought islanders a relatively high standard of living.