THE VOYAGE OF THE "BOUNTY."

235

CHAPTER XIV.

THE REVERSE OF THE PICTURE-MUTINY.

Bligh's Bread-fruit Expedition-Voyage of the Bounty-Otaheite-The Happy Islanders-First Appearance of a Mutinous Spirit-The Cutter Stolen and Recovered-The Bounty sails with 1,000 Trees-The Mutiny-Bligh Overpowered and Bound-Abandoned with Eighteen Others-Their Resources-Attacked by Natives-A Boat Voyage of 3,618 milesViolent Gales-Miserable Condition of the Boat's Crew-Bread by the Ounce-Rum by the Tea-spoonful-Noddies and Boobies-"Who shall have this?"-Off the Barrier Reef-A Haven of Rest-Oyster and Palm-top StewsAnother Thousand Miles of Ocean-Arrival at Coupang-Hospitality of the Residents-Ghastly Looks of the PartyDeath of Five of the Number-The Pandora Dispatched to Catch the Mutineers-Fourteen in Irons-Pandora's Box-The Wreck-Great Loss of Life-Sentences of the Court Martial-The Last of the Mutineers-Pitcairn Island -A Model Settlement-Another Example: The greatest Mutiny of History-40,000 Disaffected Men at one pointCauses-Legitimate Action of the Men at First-Apathy of Government-Serious Organisation-The Spithead Fleet Ordered to Sea-Refusal of the Crews-Concessions Made, and the First Mutiny Quelled-Second Outbreak-Lord Howe's Tact-The Great Mutiny of the Nore-Richard Parker-A Vile Character but Man of Talent-Wins the Men to his Side-Officers Flogged and Ducked-Gallant Duncan's Address-Accessions to the Mutineers-Parker practically Lord High Admiral-His Extravagant Behaviour-Alarm in London-The Movement Dies out by Degrees-Parker's Cause Lost-His Execution-Mutinies at Other Stations-Prompt Action of Lords St. Vincent and Macartney.

THE Royal Navy has ever been the glory of our country, but there are spots even on the bright sun. The service has been presented hitherto almost entirely under its best aspects. Example after example of heroic bravery, unmurmuring endurance, and splendid discipline, have been cited. Nor can we err in painting it couleur de rose, for its gallant exploits have won it undying fame. But in the service at one time-thank God those times are hardly possible now-mutiny and desertion on a large scale were eventualities to be considered and dreaded; they were at least remote possibilities. In a few instances they became terrible facts. In the merchant service we still hear of painful examples: every reader will remember the case of the Lennie mutineers, who murdered the captain and mates in the Bay of Biscay, with the object of selling the ship in Greece, and were defeated by the brave steward, who steered for the coast of France, and was eventually successful in communicating with the French authorities. The example about to be related is a matter of historical fact, from which the naval service in particular may still draw most important lessons.

a

In the year 1787, being seventeen years after Captain Cook's memorable first voyage, number of merchants and planters resident in London memorialised his Majesty George III., that the introduction of the bread-fruit tree from the southern Pacific Islands would be of great benefit to the West Indies, and the king complied with their request. A small vessel, the Bounty, was prepared, the arrangements for disposing the plants being made by Sir Joseph Banks, long the distinguished President of the Royal Society, and one of the most eminent men of science of the day. Banks had been with Cook among these very islands; indeed, it is stated that in his zeal for acquiring knowledge, he had undergone the process of tattooing himself. The ship was put under the command of Lieutenant Bligh, with officers and crew numbering in all forty-four souls, to whom were added a practical botanist and assistant.

The Bounty sailed from Spithead on December 23rd, 1787, and soon encountered very

severe weather, which obliged them to refit at Teneriffe. Terrible gales were experienced near Cape Horn, "storms of wind, with hail and sleet, which made it necessary to keep a constant fire night and day, and one of the watch always attended to dry the people's wet clothes. This stormy weather continued for nine days; the ship required pumping every hour; the decks became so leaky that the commander was obliged to allot the great cabin to those who had wet berths to hang their hammocks in."* It was at last determined,

after vainly struggling for thirty days to make headway, to bear away for the Cape of Good Hope. The helm was accordingly put a-weather, to the great joy and satisfaction of all on broad.

They arrived at the Cape late in May, and stopped there for thirty-eight days, refitting, replenishing provisions, and refreshing the worn-out crew. On October 26th they anchored in Matavai Bay, Otaheite, and the natives immediately came out to the ship in great numbers. Tinah, the chief of the district, on hearing of the arrival of the Bounty, sent a small pig and a young plantain tree, as a token of friendship, and the ship was liberally supplied with provisions. Handsome presents were made to Tinah, and he was told that they had been sent to him, on account of the kindness of the people to Captain Cook

"The Eventful History of the Mutiny and Piratical Seizure of H. M.S. Bounty: Its Causes and Consequences."

during his visit. "Will you not, Tinah," said Bligh, "send something to King George in return?" "Yes," he replied, "I will send him anything I have," and then enumerated the different articles in his power, among which he mentioned the bread-fruit. This was exactly what Bligh wished, and he was told that the bread-fruit trees were what King George would greatly like, and the chief promised that a large number should be placed on board.

That old

The importance of the bread-fruit to these people cannot be over-stated. navigator, Dampier, had well described it a hundred years before. "The bread-fruit, as we call it, grows on a large tree, as big and high as our largest apple-trees; it hath a spreading head, full of branches and dark leaves. The fruit grows on the boughs like apples; it is as big as a penny loaf when wheat is at five shillings the bushel; it is of a round shape, and hath a thick, tough rind; when the fruit is ripe, it is yellow and soft, and the taste is sweet and pleasant. The natives of Guam use it for bread. They gather it, when full grown, while it is green and hard; then they bake it in an oven, which scorcheth the rind and makes it black, but they scrape off the outside black crust, and there remains a tender, thin crust; and the inside is soft, tender, and white." The fruit lasts in season eight months. During Lord Anson's two months' stay at Tinian, no ship's bread was consumed, the officers and men all preferring the bread-fruit. Byron speaks of these South Sea Islands, where labour is the merest playwork, the earth affording nearly spontaneously all that the natives need, as

"The happy shores without a law,

Where all partake the earth without dispute,

And bread itself is gathered as a fruit;

Where none contest the fields, the woods, the streams,

The gold-less age, where gold disturbs no dreams.”

The

The Otaheitans of those days were a most harmless, amiable, and unsophisticated people. One day the gudgeon of the cutter's rudder was missing, and was believed to have been stolen. "I thought," says Bligh, "it would have a good effect to punish the boat-keeper in their presence, and accordingly I ordered him a dozen lashes. All who attended the punishment interceded very earnestly to get it mitigated; the women showed great sympathy." The intercourse between the crew and natives was very pleasant. Otaheitans showed the most perfect ease of manner, with "a candour and sincerity about them that is quite refreshing." When they offered refreshments, for instance, if they were not accepted, they did not press them; they had not the least idea of that ceremonious kind of refusal which expects a second invitation. "Having one day," says Bligh, 'exposed myself too much in the sun, I was taken ill, on which all the powerful people, both men and women, collected round me, offering their assistance." On an occasion when the Bounty had nearly gone ashore in a tremendous gale of wind, and on another when she did go aground, after all was right again, these kind-hearted people came in crowds to congratulate the captain on her escape; many of them shed tears while the danger seemed imminent. In the evenings, the whole beach was like a parade, crowded

with several hundred men, women, and children, all good-humoured, and affectionate to one another; their sports and games were continued till near dark, when they peaceably returned to their homes. They were particularly cleanly, bathing every morning, and often twice a day.

It is sad to turn from this pleasant picture to find the spirit of desertion and mutiny appearing among the crew. There can be no doubt that the allurements of the island, its charming climate and abundant productions, the friendliness of the natives, and ease of living, were the main causes. Bligh made one fatal mistake in his long stay of over five months, during which the crew had all opportunities of leave ashore. Every man of them had his tayo, or friend. From the moment he set his foot ashore he found himself in the midst of ease and indolence, all living in a state of luxury, without submitting to anything approaching real labour. Such enticements were too much for a common sailor, for must he not contrast the islander's happy lot with his own hardships on board?

One morning the small cutter was missing, with three of the crew. They had taken with them eight stands of arms and ammunition. The master was dispatched with one of the chiefs in their pursuit, but before they had got any great distance, they met the boat with five of the natives, who were bringing her back to the ship. "For this service they were handsomely rewarded. The chiefs promised to use every possible means to detect and bring back the deserters, which, in a few days, some of the islanders had so far accomplished as to seize and bind them, but let them loose again on a promise that they would return to their ship, which they did not exactly fulfil, but gave themselves up soon after, on a search being made for them." A few days after this it was found that the cable by which the ship rode had been cut, close to the water's edge, so that it held by only a strand. Bligh considered this the act of one of his own people, who wished the ship to go ashore, so that they might remain at Otaheite. It may, however, have chafed in the natural course of affairs.

And now the Bounty, having taken on board over a thousand of the bread-fruit plants, besides other shrubs and fruits, set sail, falling in soon after with many canoes, whose owners and passengers sold them hogs, fowls, and yams, in quantities. Some of the sailing canoes would carry ninety persons. Bligh was congratulating himself on his ship being in good condition, his plants in perfect order, and all his men and officers in good Lealth. On leaving deck on the evening of April 27th he had given directions as to the course and watches. Just before sunrise on the 28th, while he was yet asleep, Mr. Christian, officer of the watch, with three of the men, came into his cabin, and seizing him, tied his hands behind his back, threatening him with instant death if he spoke or made the least noise. "I called, however," says Bligh, "as loud as I could, in hopes of assistance; but they had already secured the officers who were not of their party, by placing sentinels 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." The master and master's mate, the gunner, and the gardener, were confined below, and the forecastle hatch was guarded by sentinels. The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat that he had