The two men that first got on board the Briton soon explained the mystery, for one of them enquired whether any person knew a William Bligh, in England; and the other was introduced by him as Thursday-October-Christian, son of the unfortunate gentleman whose fate we have just recorded. This interesting stranger was then about 24 years of age, and is described as being a fine fellow, about six feet high, his hair deep black, his countenance open and engaging, complexion of a brownish cast, but free from that mixture of a reddish tint, which prevails among the islanders in the Pacific Ocean; his only dress was a piece of cloth round his loins, and a straw hat, ornamented with the black feathers of the domestic fowl. “With a great share of good humour,” says Captain Pipon, who was then on board the Briton, “we were glad to trace in his benevolent countenance all the features of an honest English face; and I must confess, I could not survey him without feelings of tenderness and compassion.” One of his companions was named George Young, a fine youth, about 18 years old, son of the only midshipman who continued with Mr. Christian.
Young and another lad, named Quintal, came alongside in the same canoe; and so eager were they to see the ship, that they both jumped on board together, when their little bark went adrift and capsized, but she was soon picked up and towed back by another. “I then,” says Sir Thomas Staines, “for the safety of their boats, found it necessary to direct that one person should remain in each, and desired Quintal to go into his, leaving Young on board to inspect the ship. Quintal, however, whose curiosity was equally unsatisfied, immediately said, with a smile on his countenance ‘I should like to see the ship too; suppose you let us draw for it, I think that will be the fairest way.’ This was spoken with the greatest good nature, and I must own that I was greatly surprised to hear them speak the language of their fathers so correctly.”
If the astonishment of Sir Thomas Staines was great on hearing their first salutation in English, his surprise was unbounded when, on taking the young men below, and setting
