friendly islanders kept us well supplied with cocoa-nuts, notwithstanding the frequent seizures made by Lieutenant Bligh.
“The object of our visit to the Society Islands being at length accomplished, we weighed at 6h 30' A.M. on the 4th April, 1789; but for want of wind was obliged to tow and sweep the ship out of the harbour. Every one seemed in high spirits, and began to talk of home as though they had just left Jamaica instead of Otaheite; so far onward did their flattering fancies waft them. On the 23d we anchored off Annamooka, the inhabitants of which island were very rude, and attempted to take the casks and axes from the parties sent to fill water and cut wood. A musket pointed at them produced no other effect than a return of the compliment by poising their clubs or spears with menacing looks; and as it was Lieutenant Bligh’s orders that no person should affront them on any occasion, they were emboldened by meeting with no check to their insolence They at length became so troublesome that Mr. Christian, who commanded the watering party, found it difficult to carry on his duty; but on acquainting Lieutenant Bligh with their behaviour, he received a volley of abuse; was d___d as a cowardly rascal, and asked if he were afraid of naked savages whilst he had weapons in his hand? To this he replied in a respectful manner, ‘the arms are of no effect, sir, while your orders prohibit their use.’
“Having completed the water, and taken on board large quantities of yams, cocoa-nuts, plantains, &c. we weighed with a light air about noon on the 26th. The ship’s company were then drawn up under arms, and three native chiefs, who had not yet taken their leave, were made prisoners, in consequence of a boat’s grapnel, stolen on the preceding day, not being restored. Expressing great displeasure at such treatment, they were soon, after forced below and compelled to peel cocoa-nuts for Lieutenant Bligh’s dinner. The officers and crew were subsequently dismissed, but not without being told that they were a parcel of lubberly rascals, and that their commander would undertake to be one of five men with broomsticks who would disarm the whole of them. He even went so far as to present a pistol at William M‘Koy, and threaten to shoot him for not paying sufficient attention to his very flattering compliment.
“About 4 P.M., seeing no appearance of the grapnel, the chiefs were allowed to depart in the only canoe that had ventured to remain near the ship. In her were several females weeping bitterly, and giving further proofs of their anguish by inflicting terrible wounds on their own persons. The eldest of the chiefs also acted in a similar manner; and the whole, when going away, appeared like men who only smothered their resentment, seeing they had not the power of revenging the insult which had been offered to them. It was the opinion of most on board, that if a weak manned ship were to come in their way, her crew would have cause to deplore this day’s transaction.”
“Thus far,” says Lieutenant Bligh, “the voyage had advanced in a course of uninterrupted prosperity, and had
