which Churchill wished to keep in the ship, but Mr. Christian desired him to let it go. The carpenter’s mates and the armourer were ordered to be detained on board.
“The boat being very deep in the water, Lieutenant Bligh requested that the Master and some of the people might be suffered to remain. – ‘The men,’ said Mr. Christian, ‘may stay, sir, but the Master must go with you.’ The Lieutenant then called out ‘Never mind, my lads, you can’t all go with me, but I’ll do you justice if ever I reach England.’ He was then taken to the gangway, where his hands were cast loose previous to his descending into the launch.
“While the boatswain was getting his cloathes, &c. over the side, I told him my intention was to stay and take my chance in the ship, reminding him of Lieutenant Bligh’s promise, and observing that I had no occasion to point out the danger to which he was about to expose himself, as he could see that the boat swam scarcely seven inches free of the water. Mr. Cole repeated Lieutenant Bligh’s promise, and added ‘God bless you my boy; were it not for my wife and family I would stay myself.’
“After Lieutenant Bligh was in the boat, he asked for his commission and a sextant, which were given to him, together with his pocket-book, private journal, and a book of nautical tables: the latter and the sextant were handed to him by Mr. Christian, who said ‘there Captain Bligh, that book is sufficient for every purpose, and you know my sextant to be a good one.’
“The launch was now veered a-stern, and when put to rights Lieutenant Bligh requested that a musket might be given to him; but this was refused by Mr. Christian, who, however, allowed him to have four cutlasses. I handed in twenty-five or twenty-six double pieces of pork (four pounds each) and two gourds of water. Several other articles were given to him previous to his being turned adrift, which took place about 8 A.M.
“Messrs Heywood and Stewart, both of whom had been confined below, by Churchill’s directions, were now allowed to come upon deck, and Mr. Christian related the cause of this sad affair in terms to the following effect.
“Finding himself much hurt by the treatment he had received from Lieutenant Bligh, he had determined to quit the ship the preceding evening, and informed the boatswain, carpenter, and two midshipmen (Messrs, Stewart and Hayward), of his intention to do so. By them he was supplied with part of a roasted pig, some nails, beads, and other articles of trade, which he put into a bag that was given him by the last named gentleman, (the bag was produced, and I recognized it to be one which I had made for Mr. Hayward some time before.) This bag he put into the clue of Robert Tinkler’s hammock, where it was discovered by that young gentleman when going to bed at night, but the business was smothered, and passed off without any further notice. He also fastened some staves to a stout plank, with which he intended to make his escape; but finding he could not effect it during the first and middle watches, as the ship had no way through the water, and the people were all moving about, he laid
