issued, which the crew refused, alleging that their acceptance of it, without cheese, would be a tacit acknowledgment of the supposed theft: John Williams, a seaman, at the same time asserting that he had been employed to carry the cheese to Lieutenant Bligh’s house, together with a cask of vinegar, and several other articles of provisions, which had been sent up the river in a boat from Long Reach. The ship’s company persisting in their refusal to take the butter singly, it was also kept back for two banyan days, and no more notice taken of the affair.
On approaching the equator, some pumpkins, purchased at Teneriffe, began to decay, and as they were in general too large for the use of Lieutenant Bligh and his messmates (the Master and Surgeon), the clerk received directions to issue them in lieu of bread. The crew, on enquiring at what rate the exchange was to be made, were told that one pound of pumpkin was to be considered as an equivalent for two pounds of biscuit, of which latter article they had been on two-third’s allowance ever since their departure from Santa Cruz. Their evident reluctance to accept the proposed substitute, on such terms, being reported to Lieutenant Bligh, he flew upon deck in a violent rage, turned the hands up, and ordered the first man on the list of each mess to be called by name; at the same time saying, “I’ll see who will dare to refuse the pumpkin, or any thing else I may order to be served out;” to which he added, “You d___d infernal scoundrels, I’ll make you eat grass, or any thing you can catch, before I have done with you.” This speech had the desired effect, every one receiving the pumpkin, even the officers; but they having still a good private stock of potatoes, did not feel the want of bread so sensibly as the men.
To this grievance another quickly succeeded. As the commander’s private stock decreased, the beef and pork issued to the ship’s company began to appear very light; but as the contents of the casks had never been weighed, it was supposed that those recently opened did not contain the quantity marked on them, and a representation to that effect was accordingly made in the quiet and orderly manner prescribed by the 21st article of war; but Lieutenant Bligh, instead of directing the meat to be cut up and issued in the regular
