A Narrative Of The Mutiny, On Board His Majesty\'s Ship Bounty; And The Subsequent Voyage Of Part Of The Crew, In The Ship\'s Boat
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William Bligh >> A Narrative Of The Mutiny, On Board His Majesty\'s Ship Bounty; And The Subsequent Voyage Of Part Of The Crew, In The Ship\'s Boat
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7 A NARRATIVE OF THE MUTINY,
ON BOARD HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP _BOUNTY_;
AND THE SUBSEQUENT VOYAGE OF PART OF THE CREW,
IN THE SHIP's BOAT,
From TOFOA, one of the Friendly Islands,
To TIMOR, a Dutch Settlement in the East Indies.
Written by LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BLIGH.
ILLUSTRATED WITH CHARTS.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR GEORGE NICOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL.
MDCCXC.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The following Narrative is only a part of a voyage undertaken for the
purpose of conveying the Bread-fruit Tree from the South Sea Islands to
the West Indies. The manner in which this expedition miscarried, with
the subsequent transactions and events, are here related. This part of
the voyage is not first in the order of time, yet the circumstances are
so distinct from that by which it was preceded, that it appears
unnecessary to delay giving as much early information as possible
concerning so extraordinary an event. The rest will be laid before the
Public as soon as it can be got ready; and it is intended to publish it
in such a manner, as, with the present Narrative, will make the account
of the voyage compleat.
At present, for the better understanding the following pages, it is
sufficient to inform the reader, that in August, 1787, I was appointed
to command the Bounty, a ship of 215 tons burthen, carrying 4
six-pounders, 4 swivels, and 46 men, including myself and every person
on board. We sailed from England in December, 1787, and arrived at
Otaheite the 26th of October, 1788. On the 4th of April, 1789, we left
Otaheite, with every favourable appearance of completing the object of
the voyage, in a manner equal to my most sanguine expectations. At this
period the ensuing Narrative commences.
A
NARRATIVE, &c.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
I sailed from Otaheite on the 4th of April 1789, having on board 1015
fine bread-fruit plants, besides many other valuable fruits of that
country, which, with unremitting attention, we had been collecting for
three and twenty weeks, and which were now in the highest state of
perfection.
On the 11th of April, I discovered an island in latitude 18 deg. 52' S. and
longitude 200 deg. 19' E. by the natives called Whytootackee. On the 24th we
anchored at Annamooka, one of the Friendly Islands; from which, after
completing our wood and water, I sailed on the 27th, having every reason
to expect, from the fine condition of the plants, that they would
continue healthy.
On the evening of the 28th, owing to light winds, we were not clear of
the islands, and at night I directed my course towards Tofoa. The master
had the first watch; the gunner the middle watch; and Mr. Christian, one
of the mates, the morning watch. This was the turn of duty for the
night.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
Just before sun-rising, Mr. Christian, with the master at arms, gunner's
mate, and Thomas Burket, seaman, came into my cabin while I was asleep,
and seizing me, tied my hands with a cord behind my back, and threatened
me with instant death, if I spoke or made the least noise: I, however,
called so loud as to alarm every one; but they had already secured the
officers who were not of their party, by placing centinels at their
doors. There were three men at my cabin door, besides the four within;
Christian had only a cutlass in his hand, the others had muskets and
bayonets. I was hauled out of bed, and forced on deck in my shirt,
suffering great pain from the tightness with which they had tied my
hands. I demanded the reason of such violence, but received no other
answer than threats of instant death, if I did not hold my tongue. Mr.
Elphinston, the master's mate, was kept in his birth; Mr. Nelson,
botanist, Mr. Peckover, gunner, Mr. Ledward, surgeon, and the master,
were confined to their cabins; and also the clerk, Mr. Samuel, but he
soon obtained leave to come on deck. The fore hatchway was guarded by
centinels; the boatswain and carpenter were, however, allowed to come on
deck, where they saw me standing abaft the mizen-mast, with my hands
tied behind my back, under a guard, with Christian at their head.
The boatswain was now ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat, if
he did not do it instantly, to take care of himself.
The boat being out, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet, midshipmen, and Mr.
Samuel, were ordered into it; upon which I demanded the cause of such an
order, and endeavoured to persuade some one to a sense of duty; but it
was to no effect: "Hold your tongue, Sir, or you are dead this instant,"
was constantly repeated to me.
The master, by this time, had sent to be allowed to come on deck, which
was permitted; but he was soon ordered back again to his cabin.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
I continued my endeavours to turn the tide of affairs, when Christian
changed the cutlass he had in his hand for a bayonet, that was brought
to him, and, holding me with a strong gripe by the cord that tied my
hands, he with many oaths threatened to kill me immediately if I would
not be quiet: the villains round me had their pieces cocked and bayonets
fixed. Particular people were now called on to go into the boat, and
were hurried over the side: whence I concluded that with these people I
was to be set adrift.
I therefore made another effort to bring about a change, but with no
other effect than to be threatened with having my brains blown out.
The boatswain and seamen, who were to go in the boat, were allowed to
collect twine, canvas, lines, sails, cordage, an eight and twenty gallon
cask of water, and the carpenter to take his tool chest. Mr. Samuel got
150lbs of bread, with a small quantity of rum and wine. He also got a
quadrant and compass into the boat; but was forbidden, on pain of death,
to touch either map, ephemeris, book of astronomical observations,
sextant, time-keeper, or any of my surveys or drawings.
The mutineers now hurried those they meant to get rid of into the boat.
When most of them were in, Christian directed a dram to be served to
each of his own crew. I now unhappily saw that nothing could be done to
effect the recovery of the ship: there was no one to assist me, and
every endeavour on my part was answered with threats of death.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
The officers were called, and forced over the side into the boat, while
I was kept apart from every one, abaft the mizen-mast; Christian, armed
with a bayonet, holding me by the bandage that secured my hands. The
guard round me had their pieces cocked, but, on my daring the ungrateful
wretches to fire, they uncocked them.
Isaac Martin, one of the guard over me, I saw, had an inclination to
assist me, and, as he fed me with shaddock, (my lips being quite parched
with my endeavours to bring about a change) we explained our wishes to
each other by our looks; but this being observed, Martin was instantly
removed from me; his inclination then was to leave the ship, for which
purpose he got into the boat; but with many threats they obliged him to
return.
The armourer, Joseph Coleman, and the two carpenters, M'Intosh and
Norman, were also kept contrary to their inclination; and they begged of
me, after I was astern in the boat, to remember that they declared they
had no hand in the transaction. Michael Byrne, I am told, likewise
wanted to leave the ship.
It is of no moment for me to recount my endeavours to bring back the
offenders to a sense of their duty: all I could do was by speaking to
them in general; but my endeavours were of no avail, for I was kept
securely bound, and no one but the guard suffered to come near me.
To Mr. Samuel I am indebted for securing my journals and commission,
with some material ship papers. Without these I had nothing to certify
what I had done, and my honour and character might have been suspected,
without my possessing a proper document to have defended them. All this
he did with great resolution, though guarded and strictly watched. He
attempted to save the time-keeper, and a box with all my surveys,
drawings, and remarks for fifteen years past, which were numerous; when
he was hurried away, with "Damn your eyes, you are well off to get what
you have."
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
It appeared to me, that Christian was some time in doubt whether he
should keep the carpenter, or his mates; at length he determined on the
latter, and the carpenter was ordered into the boat. He was permitted,
but not without some opposition, to take his tool chest.
Much altercation took place among the mutinous crew during the whole
business: some swore "I'll be damned if he does not find his way home,
if he gets any thing with him," (meaning me); others, when the
carpenter's chest was carrying away, "Damn my eyes, he will have a
vessel built in a month." While others laughed at the helpless situation
of the boat, being very deep, and so little room for those who were in
her. As for Christian, he seemed meditating instant destruction on
himself and every one.
I asked for arms, but they laughed at me, and said I was well acquainted
with the people where I was going, and therefore did not want them; four
cutlasses, however, were thrown into the boat, after we were veered
astern.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
When the officers and men, with whom I was suffered to have no
communication, were put into the boat, they only waited for me, and the
master at arms informed Christian of it; who then said--"Come, captain
Bligh, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with
them; if you attempt to make the least resistance you will instantly be
put to death:" and, without any farther ceremony, holding me by the cord
that tied my hands, with a tribe of armed ruffians about me, I was
forced over the side, where they untied my hands. Being in the boat we
were veered astern by a rope. A few pieces of pork were then thrown to
us, and some cloaths, also the cutlasses I have already mentioned; and
it was now that the armourer and carpenters called out to me to
remember that they had no hand in the transaction. After having
undergone a great deal of ridicule, and been kept some time to make
sport for these unfeeling wretches, we were at length cast adrift in the
open ocean.
I had with me in the boat the following persons:
Names. Stations.
JOHN FRYER Master.
THOMAS LEDWARD Acting Surgeon.
DAVID NELSON Botanist.
WILLIAM PECKOVER Gunner.
WILLIAM COLE Boatswain.
WILLIAM PURCELL Carpenter.
WILLIAM ELPHINSTON Master's Mate.
THOMAS HAYWARD } Midshipmen.
JOHN HALLETT }
JOHN NORTON } Quarter Masters.
PETER LINKLETTER }
LAWRENCE LEBOGUE Sailmaker.
JOHN SMITH } Cooks.
THOMAS HALL }
GEORGE SIMPSON Quarter Master's Mate.
ROBERT TINKLER A boy.
ROBERT LAMB Butcher.
MR. SAMUEL Clerk.
There remained on board the Bounty, as pirates,
FLETCHER CHRISTIAN Master's Mate.
PETER HAYWOOD }
EDWARD YOUNG } Midshipmen.
GEORGE STEWART }
CHARLES CHURCHILL Master at Arms.
JOHN MILLS Gunner's Mate.
JAMES MORRISON Boatswain's Mate.
THOMAS BURKITT Able Seaman.
MATTHEW QUINTAL Ditto.
JOHN SUMNER Ditto.
JOHN MILLWARD Ditto.
WILLIAM M'KOY Ditto.
HENRY HILLBRANT Ditto.
MICHAEL BYRNE Ditto.
WILLIAM MUSPRAT Ditto.
ALEXANDER SMITH Ditto.
JOHN WILLIAMS Ditto.
THOMAS ELLISON Ditto.
ISAAC MARTIN Ditto.
RICHARD SKINNER Ditto.
MATTHEW THOMPSON Ditto.
WILLIAM BROWN Gardiner.
JOSEPH COLEMAN Armourer.
CHARLES NORMAN Carpenter's Mate.
THOMAS M'INTOSH Carpenter's Crew.
In all 25 hands, and the most able men of the ship's company.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
Having little or no wind, we rowed pretty fast towards Tofoa, which bore
N E about 10 leagues from us. While the ship was in sight she steered to
the W N W, but I considered this only as a feint; for when we were sent
away--"Huzza for Otaheite," was frequently heard among the mutineers.
Christian, the captain of the gang, is of a respectable family in the
north of England. This was the third voyage he had made with me; and, as
I found it necessary to keep my ship's company at three watches, I gave
him an order to take charge of the third, his abilities being thoroughly
equal to the task; and by this means my master and gunner were not at
watch and watch.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
Haywood is also of a respectable family in the north of England, and a
young man of abilities, as well as Christian. These two were objects of
my particular regard and attention, and I took great pains to instruct
them, for they really promised, as professional men, to be a credit to
their country.
Young was well recommended, and appeared to me an able stout seaman;
therefore I was glad to take him: he, however, fell short of what his
appearance promised.
Stewart was a young man of creditable parents, in the Orkneys; at which
place, on the return of the Resolution from the South Seas, in 1780, we
received so many civilities, that, on that account only, I should gladly
have taken him with me: but, independent of this recommendation, he was
a seaman, and had always borne a good character.
Notwithstanding the roughness with which I was treated, the remembrance
of past kindnesses produced some signs of remorse in Christian. When
they were forcing me out of the ship, I asked him, if this treatment was
a proper return for the many instances he had received of my friendship?
he appeared disturbed at my question, and answered, with much emotion,
"That,--captain Bligh,--that is the thing;--I am in hell--I am in hell."
As soon as I had time to reflect, I felt an inward satisfaction which
prevented any depression of my spirits: conscious of my integrity, and
anxious solicitude for the good of the service in which I was engaged,
I found my mind wonderfully supported, and I began to conceive hopes,
notwithstanding so heavy a calamity, that I should one day be able to
account to my King and country for the misfortune.--A few hours before,
my situation had been peculiarly flattering. I had a ship in the most
perfect order, and well stored with every necessary both for service and
health: by early attention to those particulars I had, as much as lay in
my power, provided against any accident, in case I could not get through
Endeavour Straits, as well as against what might befal me in them; add
to this, the plants had been successfully preserved in the most
flourishing state: so that, upon the whole, the voyage was two thirds
completed, and the remaining part in a very promising way; every person
on board being in perfect health, to establish which was ever amongst
the principal objects of my attention.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
It will very naturally be asked, what could be the reason for such a
revolt? in answer to which, I can only conjecture that the mutineers had
assured themselves of a more happy life among the Otaheiteans, than they
could possibly have in England; which, joined to some female
connections, have most probably been the principal cause of the whole
transaction.
The women at Otaheite are handsome, mild and chearful in their manners
and conversation, possessed of great sensibility, and have sufficient
delicacy to make them admired and beloved. The chiefs were so much
attached to our people, that they rather encouraged their stay among
them than otherwise, and even made them promises of large possessions.
Under these, and many other attendant circumstances, equally desirable,
it is now perhaps not so much to be wondered at, though scarcely
possible to have been foreseen, that a set of sailors, most of them
void of connections, should be led away; especially when, in addition to
such powerful inducements, they imagined it in their power to fix
themselves in the midst of plenty, on the finest island in the world,
where they need not labour, and where the allurements of dissipation are
beyond any thing that can be conceived. The utmost, however, that any
commander could have supposed to have happened is, that some of the
people would have been tempted to desert. But if it should be asserted,
that a commander is to guard against an act of mutiny and piracy in his
own ship, more than by the common rules of service, it is as much as to
say that he must sleep locked up, and when awake, be girded with
pistols.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
Desertions have happened, more or less, from many of the ships that have
been at the Society Islands; but it ever has been in the commanders
power to make the chiefs return their people: the knowledge, therefore,
that it was unsafe to desert; perhaps, first led mine to consider with
what ease so small a ship might be surprized, and that so favourable an
opportunity would never offer to them again.
The secrecy of this mutiny is beyond all conception. Thirteen of the
party, who were with me, had always lived forward among the people; yet
neither they, nor the messmates of Christian, Stewart, Haywood, and
Young, had ever observed any circumstance to give them suspicion of what
was going on. With such close-planned acts of villainy, and my mind free
from any suspicion, it is not wonderful that I have been got the better
of. Perhaps, if I had had marines, a centinel at my cabin-door might
have prevented it; for I slept with the door always open, that the
officer of the watch might have access to me on all occasions. The
possibility of such a conspiracy was ever the farthest from my
thoughts. Had their mutiny been occasioned by any grievances, either
real or imaginary, I must have discovered symptoms of their discontent,
which would have put me on my guard: but the case was far otherwise.
Christian, in particular, I was on the most friendly terms with; that
very day he was engaged to have dined with me; and the preceding night
he excused himself from supping with me, on pretence of being unwell;
for which I felt concerned, having no suspicions of his integrity and
honour.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL.]
It now remained with me to consider what was best to be done. My first
determination was to seek a supply of bread-fruit and water at Tofoa,
and afterwards to sail for Tongataboo; and there risk a solicitation to
Poulaho, the king, to equip my boat, and grant a supply of water and
provisions, so as to enable us to reach the East Indies.
The quantity of provisions I found in the boat was 150 lb. of bread, 16
pieces of pork, each piece weighing 2 lb. 6 quarts of rum, 6 bottles of
wine, with 28 gallons of water, and four empty barrecoes.
[Sidenote: Wednesday 29.]
Wednesday, April 29th[*]. Happily the afternoon kept calm, until about 4
o'clock, when we were so far to windward, that, with a moderate easterly
breeze which sprung up, we were able to sail. It was nevertheless dark
when we got to Tofoa, where I expected to land; but the shore proved to
be so steep and rocky, that I was obliged to give up all thoughts of it,
and keep the boat under the lee of the island with two oars; for there
was no anchorage. Having fixed on this mode of proceeding for the night,
I served to every person half a pint of grog, and each took to his rest
as well as our unhappy situation would allow.
[*] It is to be observed, that the account of time is kept in the
nautical way, each day ending at noon. Thus the beginning of the 29th of
April is, according to the common way of reckoning, the afternoon of the
28th.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL 29.]
In the morning, at dawn of day, we set off along shore in search of
landing, and about ten o'clock we discovered a stony cove at the N W
part of the island, where I dropt the grapnel within 20 yards of the
rocks. A great deal of surf ran on the shore; but, as I was unwilling to
diminish our stock of provisions, I landed Mr. Samuel, and some others,
who climbed the cliffs, and got into the country to search for supplies.
The rest of us remained at the cove, not discovering any way to get into
the country, but that by which Mr. Samuel had proceeded. It was great
consolation to me to find, that the spirits of my people did not sink,
notwithstanding our miserable and almost hopeless situation. Towards
noon Mr. Samuel returned, with a few quarts of water, which he had found
in holes; but he had met with no spring or any prospect of a sufficient
supply in that particular, and had only seen signs of inhabitants. As it
was impossible to know how much we might be in want, I only issued a
morsel of bread, and a glass of wine, to each person for dinner.
I observed the latitude of this cove to be 19 deg. 41' S.
This is the N W part of Tofoa, the north-westernmost of the Friendly
Islands.
[Sidenote: Thursday 30.]
Thursday, April 30th. Fair weather, but the wind blew so violently from
the E S E that I could not venture to sea. Our detention therefore made
it absolutely necessary to see what we could do more for our support;
for I determined, if possible, to keep my first stock entire: I
therefore weighed, and rowed along shore, to see if any thing could be
got; and at last discovered some cocoa-nut trees, but they were on the
top of high precipices, and the surf made it dangerous landing; both
one and the other we, however, got the better of. Some, with much
difficulty, climbed the cliffs, and got about 20 cocoa-nuts, and others
slung them to ropes, by which we hauled them through the surf into the
boat. This was all that could be done here; and, as I found no place so
eligible as the one we had left to spend the night at, I returned to the
cove, and, having served a cocoa-nut to each person, we went to rest
again in the boat.
[Sidenote: 1789. APRIL 30.]
At dawn of day I attempted to get to sea; but the wind and weather
proved so bad, that I was glad to return to my former station; where,
after issuing a morsel of bread and a spoonful of rum to each person, we
landed, and I went off with Mr. Nelson, Mr. Samuel, and some others,
into the country, having hauled ourselves up the precipice by long
vines, which were fixed there by the natives for that purpose; this
being the only way into the country.
We found a few deserted huts, and a small plantain walk, but little
taken care of; from which we could only collect three small bunches of
plantains. After passing this place, we came to a deep gully that led
towards a mountain, near a volcano; and, as I conceived that in the
rainy season very great torrents of water must pass through it, we hoped
to find sufficient for our use remaining in some holes of the rocks;
but, after all our search, the whole that we found was only nine
gallons, in the course of the day. We advanced within two miles of the
foot of the highest mountain in the island, on which is the volcano that
is almost constantly burning. The country near it is all covered with
lava, and has a most dreary appearance. As we had not been fortunate in
our discoveries, and saw but little to alleviate our distresses, we
filled our cocoa-nut shells with the water we found, and returned
exceedingly fatigued and faint. When I came to the precipice whence we
were to descend into the cove, I was seized with such a dizziness in my
head, that I thought it scarce possible to effect it: however, by the
assistance of Mr. Nelson, and others, they at last got me down, in a
weak condition. Every person being returned by noon, I gave about an
ounce of pork and two plantains to each, with half a glass of wine. I
again observed the latitude of this place 19 deg. 41' south. The people who
remained by the boat I had directed to look for fish, or what they could
pick up about the rocks; but nothing eatable could be found: so that,
upon the whole, we considered ourselves on as miserable a spot of land
as could well be imagined.
I could not say positively, from the former knowledge I had of this
island, whether it was inhabited or not; but I knew it was considered
inferior to the other islands, and I was not certain but that the
Indians only resorted to it at particular times. I was very anxious to
ascertain this point; for, in case there had only been a few people
here, and those could have furnished us with but very moderate supplies,
the remaining in this spot to have made preparations for our voyage,
would have been preferable to the risk of going amongst multitudes,
where perhaps we might lose every thing. A party, therefore,
sufficiently strong, I determined should go another route, as soon as
the sun became lower; and they cheerfully undertook it.
[Sidenote: MAY. Friday 1.]
Friday, May the 1st: stormy weather, wind E S E and S E. About two
o'clock in the afternoon the party set out; but, after suffering much
fatigue, they returned in the evening, without any kind of success.
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