self, as he said, immediately after the launch had quitted the ship, tha something more than fear had possessed them, or they would not have suffered themselves to be sent away in such a manner, without offering to make resistance[1].”
Lieutenant Bligh landed in a cove on the N.W. side of Tofoa, hoping to obtain an immediate supply of bread-fruit and water, but on climbing the heights could only find a few cocoa-nuts and plantains. The weather becoming boisterous he was obliged to take shelter in an adjacent cave. On the 1st May, several of the inhabitants brought them a small supply, and retired peaceably in the evening. The next day, their number greatly increased; some of the principal persons arrived in canoes, and amongst them was one of the identical chiefs whom he had treated so shamefully at Annamooka. They offered to accompany him to Tongataboo, when the weather should be moderate; but some symptoms appearing of a design to obtain by force the articles which he could not afford to spare them, he resolved to depart that evening, as they did not seem inclined to retire. They had previously sold him some spears; and now allowed his people to carry their property into the boat, but endeavoured to prevent him from embarking. A contest ensued, in which one Englishman was killed, and every one of the others more or less wounded by stones. The launch arrived at Coupang, in the island of Timor, without any further accident, on the 14th June; and Lieutenant Bligh proceeded from thence in a small schooner to Batavia, where he embarked with his clerk and one man in a packet bound to Europe, leaving the remainder of his companions to be provided with a passage in a fleet of merchant vessels then preparing to sail for Holland. A list of those who were turned adrift with him will be found at p. 762[2].
- ↑ We are inclined to attribute the conduct of the officers to lukewarmness, rather than to fear. Lieutenant Bligh made no effort himself, except by words, even when his hands were at liberty.
- ↑ On looking over Mr. Morrison’s MS. we find that one of the Midshipmen who was sent away with Lieutenant Bligh had been confined in, irons, by his order, from Jan. 5 till March 23, 1789, for sleeping on his watch, and thereby affording three men an opportunity of running away with the small cutter. The desertion of these men, and their subsequent recovery, are mentioned at pp. 113 and 118 of “Bligh’s Voyage,” but
