young officer to adopt who was fairly advanced in
an h'onourable profession, was to set himself adrift
upon a raft, and make his way to the island (Tofoa)
then in sight. As quick in the execution as in the
design, the raft was soon constructed, various use-
ful articles were got together, and he was on the
pomt of launching it, when a young officer who after-
ward perished in the Pandora, to whom Christian com-
municated his intention, recommended him, rather
than risk his life on so hazardous an expedition, to
endeavour to take possession of the ship, which he
thought would not be very difficult, as many of the
ship's company were not well disposed towards the
commander, and would all be very glad to return to
Otaheite, and reside among their friends in tliat
island. This daring proposition is even more extra-
ordinary than the p'remeditated scheme of his com-
panion, and, if true, certainly relieves Christian from
part of the odium which has hitherto attached to
him as the sole instigator of the mutiny." Relieve
him 1 — not a jot ! But on the best authority it may
boldly be stated that it is not true ;— the authority
of Stewart's friend and messmate, the late Captain
Heywood. ^
THE MUTINY. 87
Captain Beechey, desirous of being- correct in his
statement, very properly sent his chapter on Pit-
cairn's Island for any observations Captain Hey wood
might have to make on what was said therein re-
garding the mutiny ; observing in his note which ac-
companied it, that this account received from Adams
differed materially from a foot-note in " JMarshall's
Naval Biography ;" to which Captain Hey wood re-
turned the following reply : —
"5/A April, 1830.
" Dear Sir, — 1 have perused the account you re.
ceived from Adams of the mutiny in the Bounty,
which does indeed differ very materially from a foot-
note in Marshall's Naval Biography by the editor, to
whom I verbally detailed the facts, which are strictly
true.
" That Christian informed the boatsw^ain and the
carpenter, Messrs. Hayward and Stewart, of his de-
termination to leave the ship upon a raft on the night
preceding the mutiny is certain ; but that any one
of them (Stewart in particular) should have 'recom-
mended, rather than risk his life on so hazardous an
expedition, that he should tr}- the expedient of taking
the ship from the captain,' &c., is entirely at vari-
ance with the whole character and conduct of the
latter, both before and after the mutiny; as well as
with the assurance of Christian himself the very
night he quitted Taheite, that the idea of attempting
to take the ship had never entered his distracted
mind until the moment he relieved the deck, and
found his mate and midshipman asleep.*
"At that last interview with Christian he also
communicated to me, for the satisfaction of his rela-
tions, other circumstances connected with that un-
fortunate disaster, which, after their deaths, may oi
may not be laid before the public. And although
* Hayward and Hallet, who may thus be cons'dered as the passive
cause of the uiutiny.
88 THE MUTINY.
they can implicate none but himself, either living ot
dead, they may extenuate, but will contain not a
word of his in defence of the crime he committed
against the laws of his country.
" I am, &c.,
P. Heywocd."
Captain Beechey stated only what he had heard
from old Adams, who was not always correct in the
information he gave to the visiters of his island ;
but this part of his statement gave great pain to
Heywood, who adverted to it on his deathbed, wish-
ing, out of regard for Stewart's memory and his
surviving friends, that it should be publicly coiilia-
dicted ; and v/ith this view the above reply of ("ap-
tain Heywood is here inserted.
The temptations, therefore, which it was sup{:o^ed
Otaheite held out to the deluded men of the Bouiity
had no more share in the transaction than the sup-
posed conspiracy. It does not appear, indeed, tliat
the cry of " Huzza for Otaheite !" was ever utteied.
If this island had been the object of either Christian
or tlie crew, they v/ould not have left it three liun-
dred miles behind them before they perpetrated the
act of piracy; but after the deed had been connnit-
ted, it would be natural enough that they should turn
their minds to the lovely island and its fascinating in-
habitants which they had but just quitted, and that in
the moment of excitement some of them should have
so called out ; but Bligh is the only person wiio has
said they did so.
If, however, the recollection of the " sunny isle"
and its "smiling Avomen" had really tempted the
men to mutiny, Bligh would himself not be free
from blame, for having allowed them to indulge foi
six whole months among this v&luptuous and fasci-
nating people ; for though he was one of the most
active and anxious commanders of his time, " the
service." as is observed by a naval officer, " was car-
THE MUTINY 89
rjed on in those days in a very different spirit from
that which regulates its movements now; otherwise
the Bounty would never have passed six \vhole
months at one island ' stowing away the fruit,' dur-
ing which time the officers and seamen had free
access to the shore. Under similar circumstances
nowadays, if the fruit happened not to be ready, the
ship would have been off, after ten days' relaxation,
to survey other islands, or speculate on coral-reefs,
or make astronomical observations ; in short, to do
something or other to keep the devil out of the
heads of the crew."* Bligh would appear to have
been sensible of this on his next expedition in the
Providence ; for on that occasion he collected more
bread-fruit plants than on the former, and spent only
half the time in doing so.
Be that as it may, Bligh might naturally enough
conclude that the seamen were casting " a lingering
look behind" towards Otaheite. " ]f," says Forster,
who accompanied Cook, '• we fairly consider the
different situations of a common sailor on board the
Resolution, and of a Taheitan on his island, we can-
not blame the former if he attempt to rid himself of
the numberless discomforts of a voyage round the
world, and prefer an easy life, free from cares, in
the happiest climate of the world, to the frequent
vicissitudes w^hich are entailed upon the mariner.
The most favourable prospects of future success in
England, which he might form in idea, could never
be so flattering to his senses as the lowly hope of
living like the meanest Taheitan. And supposing
him to escape the misfortunes incident to seamen,
still he must earn his subsistence in England at the
expense of labour and ' in the sweat of his brow,'
when this oldest curse on mankind is scarcely felt
at Taheite. Two or tnree bread-fruit trees, which
grow almost without any culture, and wiiich flourish
♦ Quarterly Review, No 8a
90 THE MUTINY.
as long- as he himself can expect to live, supply hira
with abundant food during three-fourths of the year.
The cloth-trees and eddo-roots are cultivated'with
much less trouble than our cabbages and kitchen-
herbs. The banana, the royal palm, the golden
apple, all thrive with such luxuriance, and require
so little trouble, that I may venture to call them
spontaneous. Most of their days are therefore spent
in a round of various enjoyments, where Nature has
lavished many a pleasing landscape ; where the tem-
perature of the air is warm, but continuallj^ refreshed
by a wholesome breeze from the sea; and where the
sky is almost constantly serene. A kind of happy
uniformity runs through the whole life of the Taliei-
tans. They rise with the sun, and hasten to rivers
and fountains to perform an ablution equally reviv-
ing and cleanly. They pass the morning at work,
or walk about till the heat of the day increases, when
they retreat to their dwellings, or repose under some
tufted tree. There they amuse themselves with
smoothing their hair, and anoint it with fragrant oils ;
or they blow the flute, and sing to it, or listen to the
songs of the birds. At the hour of noon, or a little
later, they go to dinner. After their meals the}^ re-
sume their domestic amusements, during which the
flame of mutual affection spreads in every heart, and
unites the rising generation with new and tender
ties. The lively jest without any ill-nature, the art-
less tale, the jocund dance, and frugal supper bring
on the evening, and another visit to the river con-
cludes the actions of the day. Thus contented with
their simple way of life, and placed in a delightful
country, they are free from cares and happy in their
ignorance."
Such is the picture drawn of the happy people of
Otaheite by a cold, philosophical German doctor;
and such, with very little change, Bligh found themi.
As far, hov/ever, as the mutiny of his people was
c jncerned, we must wholly discard the idea thrown
THE MUTINI'. 91
out by him, that the seductions of Otaheite nad r.ny
share in producing it. It could not have esaqK? a
person of Christian's sagacity, that certain intci-
rogatories would unquestionably be pu- by the na-
tives of Otaheite on finding the ship return so sor-.n
without her commander, without the bread-fruit
plants, and with only about half her crew ; question?,
he knew, to which no satisfactory answer could be
made ; and though at subsequent periods he twice
visited that island, it was some time afterward, and
not from choice, but necessity. His object was to
find a place of concealment, where he might pass ihe
remainder of his days unheard of and unknown, and
where it is to be hoped he had time for sincere re-
pentance, the only atonement he could make for the
commission of a crime v/hich involved so many hu-
man beings in misery, and brought olhers to an un-
timely end But T>f this UeT-^after.
92 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
CHAPTER IV^.
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
**The boat is lower'd with all the haste of hate,
With its slight plank between thee and thy fate;
Her only cargo such a scant siipplr
As promises the death their hands aenv
And just enough of water and of bread
To keej), some days, the dying from the dead ;
Some cordage, canvass, sails, and lines, and twin*
But treasures all to hermits of the brine,
Were added after, to the parnest prayer
Of thosH who saw nr hope save pca and air;
And last, tliat trembling vassal of the Pole,
The feeling compass. Navigation's soul.
The launch is crowded with the faithful few
That wait their chief- a melancholy crew ;
But someremain'd reluctant on the deck
Of that proud vessel, now a moral wreck—
And view'd their cai)taiii"5 fate with piteous eyes ;
While others scoff'd his augurM miseries,
SneerM a: the prospect of his pigmy sail,
And the slight bark, so laden and so frail.''
Christian had intended to send away his captain
and associates in the cutter, and ordered that it
should be hoisted out for that purpose, which was
done — a small wretched boat, that could hold but
eight or ten men at the most, with a very small ad-
ditional weight ; and, what was still worse, she was
so worm-eaten and decayed, especially in the bot-
tom planks, that the probability was, she would have
gone down before she had proceeded a mile from the
ship. In this "rotten carcass of a boat," not unlike
that into which Prospero and his lovely daughter
were " hoist,"
" not rigg'd.
Nor tackle, sail, nor mast ; the ver)' rats
Instinctively had quit it,"
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. 93
did Christian intend to cast adrift his late commander
and his eighteen innocent companion.^, or as many
of them as she would stow, to find, as they inevi-
tably must have found, a wateiy grave. But the
remonstrances of the m.aster, boatswain, and carpen-
ter prevailed on him to let those unfortunate men
have the launch, into which nineteen persons were
thrust, whose weight, together with that of the few
articles, they were permitted to take, brought down
the boat so near to the v-ater as to endanger her
sinking with but a moderate swell of the sea — and to
all human appearance, in no state to survive the
length of voyage they were destined to perform over
the wide ocean, but which they did most miracu-
lously survive.
The first consideration of Lieutenant Bligh and
his eighteen unfortunate companions, on being cast
adrift in their open boat, was to examine the state
of their resources. The quantity of provisions
which they found to have been thrown into the boat
by seme few kind-hearted »nessmates amounted to
one hundred and fifty pounds of bread, sixteen pieces
of pork, each weighing two pounds, six quarts of
rum, six bottles of wine, with twenty-eight gallons
of water, and four empty barricoes. Being so near
to the island of Tofoa, it was resolved to seek there
a supply of bread-fruit and water, to preserve if pos-
sible the above-mentioned stock entire ; but after
rowing along the coast, they discovered only some
cocoanut-trees on the top of high precipices, from
which, with mich danger, owing to the surf, and
great difficulty in climbing the cliffs, they succeeded
in obtaining about twenty nuts. The second day
Ihey made excursions into the island, but without
success. They met, however, v>ath a few natives,
who came down with them to the cove where the
boat was lying; and others presently followed.
7'hey made inquiries after the ship, and Bligh unfor-
Uinately advised thej' should say that the ship had
H
94 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
overset and sunk, and that they only were saved. The
story might be innocent, but it was certainly indis.
Greet to put the people in possession of their de-
fenceless situation ; however, they brought in small
quantities of bread-fruit, plantains, and cocoanuts,
but little or no water could be procured. These
supplies, scanty as they were, served to keep up the
spiiits of the men : " They no longer," says Bligh,
" regarded me with those anxious looks which had
constantly been directed towards me since we lost
sight of the ship : every countenance appeared to
have a degree of cheerfulness, and ihey all seemed
determined to do their best."
The numbers of the natives having so much in-
creased as to line the whole beach, they began
knocking stones together, which was known to be
the preparatory signal for an attack. With some
difficulty, on account of the surf, our seamen suc-
ceeded in getting the things that were on shore into
the boat, together with all the men, except John
Norton, quarter-master, tjwho was casting off the
itern-fast. The natives immediately rushed upon
.his poor man, and actually stoned him to death. A
/olley of stones was also discharged at the boat, and
.every one in it was more or less hurt. This induced
the people to push out to sea with all the speed they
were able to give to the launch, but to their sur-
prise and alarm, several canoes filled with stones
followed close after them and renewed the attack ;
against which, the only return the unfortunate men
in the boat could make, was with the stones of tlie
assailants that lodged in her, a species of warfare in
which they were very inferior to the Indians. IMie
only expedient left was to tempt the enemy to desist
from the pursuit, by throwing overboard s^me
clothes, which fortunately induced the canoes to
stop and pick them up ; and night coming on they
returned to the shore, leaving the party in the boal
to reflect on their unhappy situation.
THE OPEN- BOAT NAVIGATION. 95
The men now entreated their commander to take
them towards home ; and on being told that no hope
of relief could be entertained till they reached Timor,
a distance of full twelve hundred leagues, they all
readily agreed to be content with an allowance,
which, on calculation of their resources, the com-
mander informed them would not exceed one ounce
of bread and a quarter of a pint of water per day.
Recommending them, therefore, in the most solemn
manner, not to depart from their promise in this re-
spect, " we bore away," says Bhgh, " across a sea
where the navigation is but little known, in a small
boat, twenty-three feet long from stem to stern,
deeply laden with eighteen men. I was happy, how-
ever, to see that every one seemed better satisfied
with our situation than myself. It was about eight
o'clock at night on the 2d May when we bore away
under a reefed lug-foresail ; and having divided the
people into watches, and got the boat into a little
order, we returned thanks to God for our miraculous
preservation, and in full confidence of his gracious
support, I found my mind more at ease than it had
been for some time past."
At daybreak on the 3d, the forlorn and almost
hopeless navigators saw with alarm the sun to rise
fiery and red, — a sure indication of a severe gale of
wind ; and accordingly, at eight o'clock it blew a
violent storm, and the sea ran so very high, that the
sail was becalmed when between the' seas, and too
much to have set when on the top of the sea ; yet it
is stated that they could not venture to take it in,
as they were in very imminent danger and distress,
the sea curling over the stern of the boat, and
obliging them to bale v/ith all their might. " A situa-.
tion," observes the commander, " more distressing
has perhaps, seldom been experienced."
The bread, being in bags, was in the greatest dan-
ger of being spoiled by the wet, the consequence of
which, if not prevented, must have been fatal, as the
96 THE OPEN-BOAT NAl'IGATION.
whole party would inevitably be stan^ed to death, if
they should fortunately escape the fury of the
waves. It was determined, therefore, that all super-
fluous clothes, with some rope and spare sails,
should be thrown overboard, by which the boat was
considerably lig:htened. The carpenters tool-chest
was cleared, and the tools stowed in the bottem of
the boat, and the bread secured in the chest. All
the people being thoroughly wet and cold, a tea-
spoonful of rum was served out to each person, with
a quarter of a bread-fruit, which is stated to have
been scarcely eatable, for dinner; Bligh having ('e-
terrnined to preserve sacredly, and at the peril of liis
life, the engagement the)'^ entered into, and to make
their small stock of provisions last eight weeks, let
the daily proportion be ever so small.
The sea continuing to run even higher than in the
morning, the fatigue of bailing became very great ;
the boat was necessarily kept before the sea. The
men were constantly wet, the night very cold, and
at daylight their limbs were so benumbed that they
could scarcely find the use of them. At this time a
tea-spoonful of rum served out to each person was
found of great benefit to all. Five small cocoanuts
were distributed for dinner, and every one was satis-
fied; and in the evening a few broken pieces of
bread-fruit were served for supper, after which
prayers were performed.
On the night of the 4th and morning of the 5th
the gale had abated ; the first step to be taken was
to examine the state of the bread, a great part of
which was found to be damaged and rotten — but
even this was carefully preserved for use. The boat
was now running among some islands, but after their
reception at Tofoa, they did not venture to land. On
the 6th they still continued to see islands at a dis-
tance ; and this day, for the first time, they hooked
a fish, to their great joy ; " but," says the commandtir,
** we were miserably disappointed by its being lost in
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATIOM. 97
trying to get it into the boat." In the evening each
person had an ounce of the damaged bread, and a
quarter of a pint of water for supper.
Lieutenant Bligh observes, " It will readily be sup-
posed our lodgings were very miserable, and con-
fined for want of room ;" but he endeavoured to
remedy the latter defect by putting themselves at
Wdtch and watch ; so that one half always sat up,
while the other lay down on the boat's bottom, or
upon a chest, but with nothing to cover them ex-
cept the heavens. Their limbs, he says, were dread-
fully cramped, for they could not stretch them out;
and the nights were so cold, and they were so con-
stantly wet, that after a few hours' sleep, they were
scarcely able to move. At dawn of day on the 7th,
bemg very wet and cold, he says, '' I served a spoon-
*'ul of rum and a morsel of bread for breakfast."
In the course of this day they passed close to
some rocky isles, from which two large sailing-
canoes came swiftly after them, but in the afternoon
gave over the chase. They were of the same con-
struction as those of the Friendly Islands, and t^
land seen for the last two da^ s V7iis supposed to b-
the Fejee Islands. But being constantly wet, Bligh
says, "It is with the utmost difficulty I can open a
book to write, and I feel truly sensible I can do no
more than point out where these lands are to be
found, and give some iueaof their extent." Heavy
rain came on in the afternoon, when every person in
the, boat did his utmost to cat^^h some water, ana
thus succeeded in increasing their stock to thirty-
four gallons, besides quenching their thirst for the
first time they had been able to do so f^ince they had
been at sea : but it seems an attendant consequence
of the heavy rain caused them to pass the night ver}'
miserably ; for being extremely wet, and having no
dry things to shift or cover themselves, they expe-
rienced cold and shiverings scarcely to be conceived.
On the 8th, the allowance issued was an ounce and
•
98 THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION.
a half of pork, a tea-spoonful of mm, half a pint of
cocoanut milk, and an ounce of bread. The rum,
though so small in quantity, is stated to have been
of the greatest service. In the afternoon they were
employed in cleaning out the boat, which occupied
them until sunset before they got every thing dry
and in order. " Hitherto," Bligh says, " I had issued
the allowance by guess, but I now made a pair of
scales ^vith two cocoanut shells ; and having acci-
dentally some pistol-balls in the boat, twenty-five of
which weighed one pound, or sixteen ounces, I
adopted one of these balls as the proportion of
weight that each person should receive of bread at
the times I served it. I also amused all hands with
describing the situations of New-Guinea and New-
Holland, and gave them every information in my
power, that in case any accident should happen to
me, those who survived might have some idea of
what they were about, and be able to find their way
to Timor, which at present they knew nothing of
more than the name, and some not even that. At
night I served a quarter of a pint of water and half
an ounce of bread for supper.
On the morning of the 9th, a quarter of a pint of
cocoanut milk and some of the decayed bread were
served for breakfast ; and for dinner, the kernels of
four cocoanuts, with the remainder of the rotten
bread, which, he says, was eatable only by such dis-
tressed people as themselves. A storm of thunder
and lightning gave them about twenty gallon* of
water. " Being miserably wet and cold, I served to
the people a tea-spoonful of rum each, to enable
them to bear with their distressing situation. The
weather continued extremely bad, and the wind in-
creased ; we spent a very miserable night, without
sleep, except such as could be got in the midst of
rain.*'
The following day, the 10th, brought no relief,
except that of its light. The sea broke over the
THE OPEN-BOAT NAVIGATION. 99
boat so much, that two men were kept constantly
bailing- ; and it was necessary to keep the boat before
the waves for fear of its filling-. The allowance
now served regularly to each person was one
twenty-fifth part of a pound of bread and a quarter
of a pint of water, at eight in the mogiing, at noon,
and at sunset. To-day was added about half an
ounce of pork for dinner, which, though any mode-
rate person would have considered onl)'- as a
mouthful, was divided into three or four.
The morning of the 11th did not improve. "At
daybreak I served to every person a tea-spoonful of
rum, our limbs being so much cramped that we could
scarcely move them. Our situation was now ex-
tremely dangerous, the sea frequently running over
our stern, which kept us bailing with all our strength.
At noon the sun appeared, which gave us as much
pleasure as is felt when it shows itself on a winter's
day in England.
" In the evening of the 12th it still rained hard,
and we again experienced a dreadful night. At
length the day came, and showed a miserable set of
beings, full of wants, without any thing to relieve
them. Some complained of great pain in their
bowels, and every one of having almost lost the use