George II. left, in 1760, 412 ships, of 321,104 tons. Twenty-two years later the navy had reached 617 vessels, and in 1813 we had the enormous number of 1,000 vessels, of which 256 were of the line, measuring 900,000 tons, carrying 146,000 seamen and marines, and costing 18,000,000 per annum to maintain. But since the peace of 1815, the number of vessels has greatly diminished, while an entirely new era of naval construction has been inaugurated. In the seventeenth century a vessel of 1,500 tons was considered of enormous size. At the end of the eighteenth, 2,500 was the outside limit, whilst there are now many vessels of 4,000 tons, and the navy possesses frigates of 6,000 and upwards. Several of our enormous ironclads have a tonnage of over 11,000 tons, while the _Great Eastern_-of course a _very_ exceptional case-has a tonnage of 22,500.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE "GREAT HARRY" AND "GREAT EASTERN" IN CONTRAST.]
Whilst we have efficient military volunteers enough to form a grand army, our naval volunteers do not number more than the contingents for a couple of large vessels. There are scarcely more than a thousand of the latter, and only three stations. London, Liverpool, and Brighton divide the honour between them of possessing corps. The writer believes that he will be doing a service to many young men-who in their turn may do good service for their country-in briefly detailing the conditions and expenses of joining. In a very short period of time the members have become wonderfully efficient, and the sailor-like appearance of the men is well ill.u.s.trated by the fact, that at a recent reception at the Mansion House a number of them were taken for men-of-war"s men, and so described in several daily journals. Their prowess is ill.u.s.trated by the prizes distributed by Lady Ashley, at the inspection of the 1st London Corps, in the West India Docks, on February 9th last. Badges were won by the gunner making the best practice with the heavy gun at sea, and by the marksman making the greatest number of points with the rifle. The "Lord Ashley challenge prize," for the best gun"s crew at sea, was won by fourteen men of No. 2 battery, who fired forty-two rounds at 1,300 yards in thirty-seven minutes, scoring 411 points out of a possible 504 points. The official report says:-"that further comment on the men or their instructor is superfluous." The list included rifle, battery, and boating prizes.
The Royal Navy Artillery Volunteers are raised under an Act pa.s.sed in 1873, and are directly subject to the authority of the Admiralty. They may be a.s.sembled for actual employment, their duties then consisting of coast or harbour service. They are not required to go aloft, or to attend to the engine fires, but in regard to berthing and messing must conform to the arrangements usual with seamen. The force is formed into brigades, each brigade consisting of four or more batteries, of from sixty to eighty men.
Each brigade has a lieutenant-commander, and each battery a sub-lieutenant, chief petty officer, first and second-cla.s.s petty officers, buglers, &c., while the staff includes a lieutenant-instructor, first-cla.s.s petty officer instructor, surgeon, bugle-major, and armourer.
Those desiring to join a corps should communicate with the Secretary of the Admiralty. The annual subscription to the 1st London Corps is one guinea, while each member has to provide himself with two white frocks, one blue serge frock, one pair of blue trousers, one blue cloth cap, &c., black handkerchief, flannel, knife, lanyard, and monkey-jacket, costing in the neighbourhood of six pounds. When on a cruise, in gunboat, the volunteer requires in addition serge trousers and jumpers, flannel shirt, towels, and brush and comb, canvas bags, &c. The officers" uniforms are the same as those of the Royal Navy, with the exception of silver, for the most part, taking the place of gold. It is more expensive to join the naval than the military volunteers, and the cla.s.s composing the corps are generally well-to-do young men, a large number of them employed in shipping offices, and mercantile pursuits connected with the sea.
The drills consist of practice with great guns, rifle, pistol, and cutla.s.s exercises. "Efficient" volunteers are ent.i.tled to a badge, while men returned five times as efficient may wear one star, and those returned ten times two stars, above said badge. Every volunteer must attend at least two drills a month, until he has obtained the standard of an "efficient."
When on actual service, the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers will receive the same pay, allowances, and victuals as those of relative rank in the navy, and when embarked on any of Her Majesty"s ships for more than forty-eight hours, in practice, will either be victualled or receive a money compensation. The cruises in gun-boats, &c., usually last ten days, and the vessel visits many of the Channel ports, &c., more especially off points where gun practice is practicable. A volunteer wounded, either on drill or in actual service, is ent.i.tled to the same compensation as any seaman in the navy would be under similar circ.u.mstances, and if killed his widow (if any) to the same gratuities out of the Greenwich Hospital Funds as would a Royal Navy seaman"s widow. Members who are able to take advantage of the cruise in gun-boats must have attended drill regularly for three months previously. It must be remembered that each man costs the Government from 8 to 10 for the first year, in the expenses incurred in great gun and other practice; and it is therefore made a point of honour to those joining that they will devote sufficient time to their drills to make themselves thoroughly efficient.
The London Naval Artillery Volunteers have a fine vessel, the _President_, now in the West India Docks, on which to exercise, while to accustom them to living on board ship, the old _Rainbow_, off Temple Pier, is open to them, under certain conditions, as a place of residence. A number avail themselves of this: sleep on board in hammocks, and contribute their quota of the mess expenses. The writer is the last to decry other manly exercises, such as cricket, foot-ball, racing, or pedestrianism, but naval volunteering has the advantage of not merely comprising a series of manly exercises, but in being directly practical and specially health-giving.
And to prevent the need of impressment, the Government did well in establishing the Royal Naval Reserve. The latest estimates provided 140,000 for the year; the number, which at present is about 20,000 men, is not to exceed 30,000. The service is divided into two cla.s.ses: the first cla.s.s consisting of seamen of the merchant service, and the second, fishermen on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. Both divisions are practical sailors, and the value of their services in a time of war would be inestimable. They are required to drill twenty-eight days in each year, for which they receive about 6 per annum, and sundry allowances for travelling, &c. The former cla.s.s can be drilled at our stations abroad, so that a merchant seaman is not necessarily tied to England, or to mere coasting trade.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE REVERSE OF THE PICTURE-MUTINY.
Bligh"s Bread-fruit Expedition-Voyage of the _Bounty_-Otaheite-The Happy Islanders-First Appearance of a Mutinous Spirit-The Cutter Stolen and Recovered-The _Bounty_ sails with 1,000 Trees-The Mutiny-Bligh Overpowered and Bound-Abandoned with Eighteen Others-Their Resources-Attacked by Natives-A Boat Voyage of 3,618 miles-Violent Gales-Miserable Condition of the Boat"s Crew-Bread by the Ounce-Rum by the Tea-spoonful-Noddies and b.o.o.bies-"Who shall have this?"-Off the Barrier Reef-A Haven of Rest-Oyster and Palm-top Stews-Another Thousand Miles of Ocean-Arrival at Coupang-Hospitality of the Residents-Ghastly Looks of the Party-Death of Five of the Number-The _Pandora_ Dispatched to Catch the Mutineers-Fourteen in Irons-_Pandora"s_ Box-The Wreck-Great Loss of Life-Sentences of the Court Martial-The Last of the Mutineers-Pitcairn Island-A Model Settlement-Another Example: The greatest Mutiny of History-40,000 Disaffected Men at one point-Causes-Legitimate Action of the Men at First-Apathy of Government-Serious Organisation-The Spithead Fleet Ordered to Sea-Refusal of the Crews-Concessions Made, and the First Mutiny Quelled-Second Outbreak-Lord Howe"s Tact-The Great Mutiny of the Nore-Richard Parker-A Vile Character but Man of Talent-Wins the Men to his Side-Officers Flogged and Ducked-Gallant Duncan"s Address-Accessions to the Mutineers-Parker practically Lord High Admiral-His Extravagant Behaviour-Alarm in London-The Movement Dies out by Degrees-Parker"s Cause Lost-His Execution-Mutinies at Other Stations-Prompt Action of Lords St. Vincent and Macartney.
The Royal Navy has ever been the glory of our country, but there are spots even on the bright sun. The service has been presented hitherto almost entirely under its best aspects. Example after example of heroic bravery, unmurmuring endurance, and splendid discipline, have been cited. Nor can we err in painting it _couleur de rose_, for its gallant exploits have won it undying fame. But in the service at one time-thank G.o.d those times are hardly possible now-mutiny and desertion on a large scale were eventualities to be considered and dreaded; they were at least remote possibilities. In a few instances they became terrible facts. In the merchant service we still hear of painful examples: every reader will remember the case of the _Lennie_ mutineers, who murdered the captain and mates in the Bay of Biscay, with the object of selling the ship in Greece, and were defeated by the brave steward, who steered for the coast of France, and was eventually successful in communicating with the French authorities. The example about to be related is a matter of historical fact, from which the naval service in particular may still draw most important lessons.
In the year 1787, being seventeen years after Captain Cook"s memorable first voyage, a number of merchants and planters resident in London memorialised his Majesty George III., that the introduction of the bread-fruit tree from the southern Pacific Islands would be of great benefit to the West Indies, and the king complied with their request. A small vessel, the _Bounty_, was prepared, the arrangements for disposing the plants being made by Sir Joseph Banks, long the distinguished President of the Royal Society, and one of the most eminent men of science of the day. Banks had been with Cook among these very islands; indeed, it is stated that in his zeal for acquiring knowledge, he had undergone the process of tattooing himself. The ship was put under the command of Lieutenant Bligh, with officers and crew numbering in all forty-four souls, to whom were added a practical botanist and a.s.sistant.
The _Bounty_ sailed from Spithead on December 23rd, 1787 and soon encountered very severe weather, which obliged them to refit at Teneriffe.
Terrible gales were experienced near Cape Horn, "storms of wind, with hail and sleet, which made it necessary to keep a constant fire night and day, and one of the watch always attended to dry the people"s wet clothes. This stormy weather continued for nine days; the ship required pumping every hour; the decks became so leaky that the commander was obliged to allot the great cabin to those who had wet berths to hang their hammocks in."(124) It was at last determined, after vainly struggling for thirty days to make headway, to bear away for the Cape of Good Hope. The helm was accordingly put a-weather, to the great joy and satisfaction of all on board.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CREW OF H.M.S. "BOUNTY" LANDING AT OTAHEITE.]
They arrived at the Cape late in May, and stopped there for thirty-eight days, refitting, replenishing provisions, and refreshing the worn-out crew. On October 26th they anch.o.r.ed in Matavai Bay, Otaheite, and the natives immediately came out to the ship in great numbers. Tinah, the chief of the district, on hearing of the arrival of the _Bounty_, sent a small pig and a young plantain tree, as a token of friendship, and the ship was liberally supplied with provisions. Handsome presents were made to Tinah, and he was told that they had been sent to him, on account of the kindness of the people to Captain Cook during his visit. "Will you not, Tinah," said Bligh, "send something to King George in return?" "Yes,"
he replied, "I will send him anything I have," and then enumerated the different articles in his power, among which he mentioned the bread-fruit.
This was exactly what Bligh wished, and he was told that the bread-fruit trees were what King George would greatly like, and the chief promised that a large number should be placed on board.
The importance of the bread-fruit to these people cannot be over-stated.
That old navigator, Dampier, had well described it a hundred years before.
"The bread-fruit, as we call it, grows on a large tree, as big and high as our largest apple-trees; it hath a spreading head, full of branches and dark leaves. The fruit grows on the boughs like apples; it is as big as a penny loaf when wheat is at five shillings the bushel; it is of a round shape, and hath a thick, tough rind; when the fruit is ripe, it is yellow and soft, and the taste is sweet and pleasant. The natives of Guam use it for bread. They gather it, when full grown, while it is green and hard; then they bake it in an oven, which scorcheth the rind and makes it black, but they sc.r.a.pe off the outside black crust, and there remains a tender, thin crust; and the inside is soft, tender, and white." The fruit lasts in season eight months. During Lord Anson"s two months" stay at Tinian, no ship"s bread was consumed, the officers and men all preferring the bread-fruit. Byron speaks of these South Sea Islands, where labour is the merest play work, the earth affording nearly spontaneously all that the natives need, as
"The happy sh.o.r.es without a law, * * * * * * *
Where all partake the earth without dispute, And bread itself is gathered as a fruit; Where none contest the fields, the woods, the streams, The gold-less age, where gold disturbs no dreams."
The Otaheitans of those days were a most harmless, amiable, and unsophisticated people. One day the gudgeon of the cutter"s rudder was missing, and was believed to have been stolen. "I thought," says Bligh, "it would have a good effect to punish the boat-keeper in their presence, and accordingly I ordered him a dozen lashes. All who attended the punishment interceded very earnestly to get it mitigated; the women showed great sympathy." The intercourse between the crew and natives was very pleasant. The Otaheitans showed the most perfect ease of manner, with "a candour and sincerity about them that is quite refreshing." When they offered refreshments, for instance, if they were not accepted, they did not press them; they had not the least idea of that ceremonious kind of refusal which expects a second invitation. "Having one day," says Bligh, "exposed myself too much in the sun, I was taken ill, on which all the powerful people, both men and women, collected round me, offering their a.s.sistance." On an occasion when the _Bounty_ had nearly gone ash.o.r.e in a tremendous gale of wind, and on another when she did go aground, after all was right again, these kind-hearted people came in crowds to congratulate the captain on her escape; many of them shed tears while the danger seemed imminent. In the evenings, the whole beach was like a parade, crowded with several hundred men, women, and children, all good-humoured, and affectionate to one another; their sports and games were continued till near dark, when they peaceably returned to their homes. They were particularly cleanly, bathing every morning, and often twice a day.
It is sad to turn from this pleasant picture to find the spirit of desertion and mutiny appearing among the crew. There can be no doubt that the allurements of the island, its charming climate and abundant productions, the friendliness of the natives, and ease of living, were the main causes. Bligh made one fatal mistake in his long stay of over five months, during which the crew had all opportunities of leave ash.o.r.e. Every man of them had his _tayo_, or friend. From the moment he set his foot ash.o.r.e he found himself in the midst of ease and indolence, all living in a state of luxury, without submitting to anything approaching real labour.
Such enticements were too much for a common sailor, for must he not contrast the islander"s happy lot with his own hardships on board?
One morning the small cutter was missing, with three of the crew. They had taken with them eight stands of arms and ammunition. The master was dispatched with one of the chiefs in their pursuit, but before they had got any great distance, they met the boat with five of the natives, who were bringing her back to the ship. "For this service they were handsomely rewarded. The chiefs promised to use every possible means to detect and bring back the deserters, which, in a few days, some of the islanders had so far accomplished as to seize and bind them, but let them loose again on a promise that they would return to their ship, which they did not exactly fulfil, but gave themselves up soon after, on a search being made for them." A few days after this it was found that the cable by which the ship rode had been cut, close to the water"s edge, so that it held by only a strand. Bligh considered this the act of one of his own people, who wished the ship to go ash.o.r.e, so that they might remain at Otaheite. It may, however, have chafed in the natural course of affairs.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MUTINEERS SEIZING CAPTAIN BLIGH.]
And now the _Bounty_, having taken on board over a thousand of the bread-fruit plants, besides other shrubs and fruits, set sail, falling in soon after with many canoes, whose owners and pa.s.sengers sold them hogs, fowls, and yams, in quant.i.ties. Some of the sailing canoes would carry ninety persons. Bligh was congratulating himself on his ship being in good condition, his plants in perfect order, and all his men and officers in good health. On leaving deck on the evening of April 27th he had given directions as to the course and watches. Just before sunrise on the 28th, while he was yet asleep, Mr. Christian, officer of the watch, with three of the men, came into his cabin, and seizing him, tied his hands behind his back, threatening him with instant death if he spoke or made the least noise. "I called, however," says Bligh, "as loud as I could, in hopes of a.s.sistance; but they had already secured the officers who were not of their party, by placing sentinels at their doors. There were three men at my cabin-door besides the four within; Christian had only a cutla.s.s in his hand, the others had muskets and bayonets. I was hauled out of bed, and forced on deck in my shirt, suffering great pain from the tightness with which they had tied my hands." The master and master"s mate, the gunner, and the gardener, were confined below, and the forecastle hatch was guarded by sentinels. The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat that he had better do it instantly, and two of the midshipmen and others were ordered into it. Bligh was simply told, "Hold your tongue, sir, or you are dead this instant!" when he remonstrated. "I continued," says he, "my endeavours to turn the tide of affairs, when Christian changed the cutla.s.s which he had in his hand for a bayonet that was brought to him, and holding me with a strong grip by the cord that tied my hands, he threatened, with many oaths, to kill me immediately, if I would not be quiet; the villains round me had their pieces c.o.c.ked and bayonets fixed." The boatswain and seamen who were to be turned adrift with Bligh were allowed to collect twine, canvas, lines, sails, cordage, and an eight-and-twenty gallon cask of water; the clerk secured one hundred and fifty pounds of bread, with a small quant.i.ty of rum and wine, also a quadrant and compa.s.s, but he was forbidden to touch the maps, observations, or any of the surveys or drawings. He did, however, secure the journals and captain"s commission. The mutineers having forced those of the seamen whom they meant to get rid of into the boat, Christian directed a dram to be served to each of his own crew. Isaac Martin, one of the guard over Bligh, had an inclination to serve him, and fed him with some fruit, his lips being quite parched. This kindness was observed, and Martin was ordered away. The same man, with three others, desired to go with the captain, but this was refused. They begged him to remember that they had no hand in the transaction. "I asked for arms," says Bligh, "but they laughed at me, and said I was well acquainted with the people among whom I was going, and therefore did not want them; four cutla.s.ses, however, were thrown into the boat after we were veered astern.
[Ill.u.s.tration: BLIGH CAST ADRIFT.]
"The officers and men being in the boat, they only waited for me, of which the master-at-arms informed Christian, who then said, "Come, Captain Bligh, your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with them; if you attempt to make the least resistance, you will instantly be put to death;" and without further ceremony, with a tribe of armed ruffians about me, I was forced over the side, when they untied my hands."
A few pieces of pork were thrown to them, and after undergoing a great deal of ridicule, and having been kept for some time to make sport for these unfeeling wretches, they were at length cast adrift in the open sea.
Bligh heard shouts of "Huzza for Otaheite!" among the mutineers for some considerable time after they had parted from the vessel.
In the boat, well weighted down to the water"s edge, were nineteen persons, including the commander, master, acting-surgeon, botanist, gunner, boatswain, carpenter, and two midshipmen. On the ship were twenty-five persons, mostly able seamen, but three midshipmen were among the number, two of whom had no choice in the matter, being detained against their will.
Lieutenant Bligh, although a good seaman, was a tyrannical man, and had made himself especially odious on board by reason of his severity, and especially in regard to the issuing of provisions. He had had many disputes with Christian in particular, when his language was of the coa.r.s.est order. Still, the desire to remain among the Otaheitans, or, at all events, among these enticing islands, seems to have been the main cause of the mutiny.
It was shown afterwards that Christian had only the night before determined to make his escape on a kind of small raft; that he had informed four of his companions, and that they had supplied him with part of a roast pig, some nails, beads, and other trading articles, and that he abandoned the idea because, when he came on deck to his watch at four a.m., he found an opportunity which he had not expected. He saw Mr.
Hayward, the mate of his watch, fall asleep, and the other midshipmen did not put in an appearance at all. He suddenly conceived the idea of the plot, which he disclosed to seven of the men, three of whom had "tasted the cat," and were unfavourable to Bligh. They went to the armourer, and secured the keys of his chest, under the pretence of wanting a musket to fire at a shark, then alongside. Christian then proceeded to secure Lieutenant Bligh, the master, gunner, and botanist. He stated that he had been much annoyed at the frequent abusive and insulting language of his commanding officer. Waking out of a short half-hour"s disturbed sleep, to take the command of the deck-finding the mates of the watch asleep-the opportunity tempting, and the ship completely in his power, with a momentary impulse he darted down the fore-hatchway, got possession of the arm-chest, and made the hazardous experiment of arming such of the men as he deemed he could trust. It is said that he intended to send away his captain in a small, wretched boat, worm-eaten and decayed, but the remonstrances of a few of the better-hearted induced him to subst.i.tute the cutter.
And now to follow the fortunes of Lieutenant Bligh and his companions.
Their first consideration was to examine their resources. There were sixteen pieces of pork, weighing two pounds each, the bread and water as before mentioned, six quarts of rum, and six bottles of wine. Being near the island of Tofoa, they resolved to seek a supply of bread-fruit and water, so as to preserve their other stock, and they did obtain a small quant.i.ty of the former, but little water. The natives seeing their defenceless condition meditated their destruction, and speedily crowded the beach, knocking stones together, the preparatory signal for an attack.
With some difficulty the seamen succeeded in getting their things together, and got all the men, except John Norton, one of the quartermasters, into the boat, the surf running high. The poor man was literally stoned to death within their sight. They pushed out to sea in all haste, and were followed by volleys of big stones, some of the canoes pursuing them. Their only expedient left to gain time was to throw overboard some of their clothing, which, fortunately, induced the natives to stop and pick them up. Night coming on, the canoes returned to the sh.o.r.e.
The nearest place where they could expect relief was Timor, a distance of full 1,200 leagues, and the men agreed to be put on an allowance, which on calculation was found not to exceed _one ounce_ of bread per diem, and a gill of water. Recommending them, therefore, in the most solemn manner, not to depart from their promises, "we bore away," says Bligh, "across a sea where the navigation is but little known, in a small boat, twenty-three feet long from stem to stern, deeply laden with eighteen men.... It was about eight at night on the 2nd of May when we bore away under a reefed lug-foresail; and having divided the people into watches, and got the boat into a little order, we returned thanks to G.o.d for our miraculous preservation, and in full confidence of His gracious support, I found my mind more at ease than it had been for some time past." Next morning the sun rose fiery and red, a sure indication of a gale, and by eight o"clock it blew a violent storm, the waves running so high that their sail was _becalmed_ when between the seas. They lightened the boat by throwing overboard all superfluous articles, and removing the tools, put the bread, on which their very existence depended, in the chest.
Miserably wet and cold as were all, Bligh administered a _tea-spoonful_ of rum to each at dinner time. The sea still rose, and the fatigue of baling became very great. Next morning at daylight the men"s limbs were benumbed, and another spoonful of spirit was administered. Whatever might be said of Bligh"s previous conduct, there is no doubt that at this juncture he exerted himself wonderfully and very judiciously to save the lives of all.
Their dinner this day consisted of five small cocoa-nuts. On the night of the 4th the gale abated, and they examined the bread, much of which was found to be damaged and rotten, but it was still preserved for use. On the 6th they hooked a fish, "but," says the commander, "we were miserably disappointed by its being lost in trying to get it into the boat." They were terribly cramped for want of room on board, although Bligh did for the best by putting them watch and watch, so that half of them at a time could lie at the bottom of the boat. On the 7th they pa.s.sed close to some rocky isles, from which two large sailing canoes came out and pursued hotly, but gave over the chase in the afternoon. This day heavy rain fell, when everybody set to work to catch some, with such success that they not merely quenched their thirst, but increased their stock to thirty-five gallons. As a corresponding disadvantage they got wet through. On the 8th the allowance issued was an ounce and a half of pork, a tea-spoonful of rum, half a pint of cocoa-nut milk, and an ounce of bread. Bligh constructed a pair of scales of two cocoa-nut sh.e.l.ls, using pistol-b.a.l.l.s for weights. The next nine days brought bad weather, and much rain, the sea breaking over the boat so much that two men were kept constantly baling, and it was necessary to keep the boat before the waves to prevent her filling. When day broke it showed a miserable set of beings, full of wants, aches, and pains, and nothing to relieve them. They found some comfort by wringing their clothes in sea-water, by which means they found a certain limited amount of warmth. But though all were shivering with cold and wet, the commander was obliged to tell them that the rum ration-one tea-spoonful-must for the present be discontinued, as it was running low.
"During the whole of the afternoon of the 21st," says Bligh, "we were so covered with rain and salt water that we could scarcely see. We suffered extreme cold, and every one dreaded the approach of night. Sleep, though we longed for it, afforded no comfort; for my own part, I almost lived without it. * * * The misery we suffered this night exceeded the preceding. The sea flew over us with great force, and kept us baling with horror and anxiety. At dawn of day I found every one in a most distressed condition, and I began to fear that another such night would put an end to the lives of several, who seemed no longer able to support their sufferings. I served an allowance of two tea-spoonfuls of rum; after drinking which, and having wrung our clothes, and taken our breakfast of bread and water, we became a little refreshed." On the 24th, for the first time in fifteen days, they experienced the warmth of the sun, and dried their now threadbare garments.
On the 25th, at mid-day, some noddies flew so near the boat that one was caught by hand. This bird, about the size of a small pigeon, was divided into eighteen portions, and allotted by the method known as _"__Who shall have this?__"_ in which one person, who turns his back to the caterer, is asked the question, as each piece is indicated. This system gives every one the chance of securing the best share. Bligh used to speak of the amus.e.m.e.nt it gave the poor half-starved people when the beak and claws fell to his lot. That and the following day two b.o.o.bies, which are about as large as ducks, were also caught. The sun came out so powerfully that several of the people were seized with faintness. But the capture of two more b.o.o.bies revived their spirits, and as from the birds, and other signs, Mr. Bligh had no doubt they were near land, the feelings of all became more animated. On the morning of the 28th the "barrier reef" of what was then known as the eastern coast of New Holland, now Australia, appeared, with the surf and breakers outside, and smooth water within. The difficulty was to find a pa.s.sage; but at last a fine opening was discovered, and through this the boat pa.s.sed rapidly with a strong stream, and came immediately into smooth water. Their past hardships seemed all at once forgotten. The coast appeared, and in the evening they landed on the sandy point of an island, where they soon found that the rocks were covered with oysters, and that plenty of fresh water was attainable. By help of a small sun-gla.s.s a fire was made, and soon a stew of oysters, pork, and bread was concocted, which gladdened their hearts, each receiving a full pint. The 29th of May being the anniversary of the restoration of Charles II., the spot was not inappropriately named Restoration Island.
Bligh soon noted the alteration for the better in the looks of his men, which proved the value of oysters, stewed, as they sometimes were, with fresh green palm-tops. Strange to say, that the mutinous spirit, which had been satisfactorily absent before, broke out in one or two of the men, and Bligh had, in one instance, to seize a cutla.s.s and order the man to defend himself. The threatened outbreak ended quietly.
But although the worst of their voyage was over, their troubles in other ways were serious. While among the islands off the coast of Australia several of them were seriously affected with weakness, dizziness, and violent pains in their bowels. Infinitesimal quant.i.ties of wine were administered, to their great benefit. A party was sent out on one of the islands to catch birds, and they returned with a dozen noddies; these and a few clams were all they obtained. On the 3rd of June they left Cape York, and once more launched their little boat on the open ocean. On the 5th a b.o.o.by was caught by the hand, the blood of which was divided among three of the men who were weakest, and the bird kept for next day"s dinner. The following day the sea ran high, and kept breaking over the boat. Mr. Ledward, the surgeon, and Lebogue, an old hardy sailor, appeared to be breaking up fast, and no other a.s.sistance could be given them than a tea-spoonful or two of wine. On the morning of the 10th there was a visible alteration for the worse in many of the people. Their countenances were ghastly and hollow, their limbs swollen, and all extremely debilitated; some seeming to have lost their reason. But next day Bligh was able to announce that they had pa.s.sed the meridian of Timor, and the following morning land was sighted with expressions of universal joy and satisfaction. Forty-one days had they been on the ocean in their miserable boat, and by the log they had run 3,618 nautical miles. On the 14th they arrived at Coupang Bay, where they were received with all kinds of hospitality. The party on landing presented the appearance of spectres: their bodies skin and bones, and covered with sores; their clothing in rags. But the strain had been too much for several of them. The botanist died at Coupang, three of the men at Batavia, and one on the pa.s.sage home.
The doctor was left behind and not afterwards heard of. Bligh arrived in England on March 14th, and received much sympathy. He was immediately promoted, and afterwards successfully carried the bread-fruit tree to the West Indies. Meantime the Government naturally proposed to bring the mutineers to trial, whatever it might cost.
The _Pandora_, a frigate of twenty-four guns, and one hundred and sixty men, was selected for the service, and was placed under the command of Captain Edward Edwards, with orders to proceed to Otaheite, and if necessary the other islands. The voyage was destined to end in shipwreck and disaster, but the captain succeeded in securing a part of the mutineers, of whom ten were brought to England, and four drowned on the wreck.
The _Pandora_ reached Matavia Bay on the 23rd of March, 1791. The armourer and two of the midshipmen, Mr. Heywood and Mr. Stewart, came off immediately, and showed their willingness to afford information. Four others soon after appeared, and from them the captain learned that the rest of the _Bounty"s_ people had built a schooner, and sailed the day before for another part of the island. They were pursued, and the schooner secured, but the mutineers had fled to the mountains. A day or two elapsed, when they ventured down, and when within hearing were ordered to lay down their arms, which they did, and were put in irons. Captain Edwards put them into a round-house, built on the after part of the quarter-deck, in order to isolate them from the crew. According to the statement of one of the prisoners, the midshipmen were kept ironed by the legs, separate from the men, in a kind of round-house, aptly termed "Pandora"s Box," which was entered by a scuttle in the roof, about eighteen inches square. "The prisoners" wives visited the ship daily, and brought their children, who were permitted to be carried to their unhappy fathers. To see the poor captives in irons," says the only narrative published of the _Pandora"s_ visit, "weeping over their tender offspring, was too moving a scene for any feeling heart. Their wives brought them ample supplies of every delicacy that the country afforded while we lay there, and behaved with the greatest fidelity and affection to them."(125) Stewart, the midshipman, had espoused the daughter of an old chief, and they had lived together in the greatest harmony; a beautiful little girl had been the fruit of the union. When Stewart was confined in irons, Peggy, for so her husband had named her, flew with her infant in a canoe to the arms of her husband. The interview was so painful that Stewart begged she might not be admitted on board again. Forbidden to see him, she sank into the greatest dejection, and seemed to have lost all relish for food and existence; she pined away and died two months afterwards.(126)
[Ill.u.s.tration: MAP OF THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC.]
All the mutineers that were left on the island having been secured, the ship proceeded to other islands in search of those who had gone away in the _Bounty_. It must be mentioned, however, that two of the men had perished by violent deaths. They had made friends with a chief, and one of them, Churchill, was his _tayo_, or sworn friend. The chief died suddenly without issue, and Churchill, according to the custom of the country, succeeded to his property and dignity. The other, Thomson, murdered Churchill, probably to acquire his possessions, and was in his turn stoned to death by the natives. Captain Edwards learned that after Bligh had been set adrift, Christian had thrown overboard the greater part of the bread-fruit plants, and divided the property of those they had abandoned.
They at first went to an island named Toobouai, where they intended to form a settlement, but the opposition of the natives, and their own quarrels, determined them to revisit Otaheite. There the leading natives were very curious to know what had become of Bligh and the rest, and the mutineers invented a story to the effect that they had unexpectedly fallen in with Captain Cook at an island he had just discovered, and that Lieutenant Bligh was stopping with him, and had appointed Mr. Christian commander of the _Bounty_; and, further, he was now come for additional supplies for them. This story imposed upon the simple-minded natives, and in the course of a very few days the _Bounty_ received on board thirty-eight goats, 312 hogs, eight dozen fowls, a bull and a cow, and large quant.i.ties of fruit. They also took with them a number of natives, male and female, intending to form a settlement at Toobouai. Skirmishes with the natives, generally brought on by their own violent conduct or robberies, and eternal bickerings among themselves, delayed the progress of their fort, and it was subsequently abandoned, sixteen of the men electing to stop at Otaheite, and the remaining nine leaving finally in the _Bounty_, Christian having been heard frequently to say that his object was to find some uninhabited island, in which there was no harbour, that he would run the ship ash.o.r.e, and make use of her materials to form a settlement. This was all that Captain Edwards could learn, and after a fruitless search of three months he abandoned further inquiry, and proceeded on his homeward voyage.