4 NOTES ON CAITAIN BLItJHS VISITS TO TASMANIA, 



"removal of the restrictions on trade and comnieiTC, and to 

 "the general betterment of the conditions of life in the 

 "colony." 



Looked at in this light, it will be seen that Bligh's con- 

 nection with Australian history embraces an era rich in 

 historical events and consequences. In the following pages 

 it is hoped to give some information concerning Bligh's visits 

 as an explorer, to the Southern Isle over which he was later 

 to become Governor-in-Chief. 



THE VOYAGE OF THE BOUNTY. 



The voyage of the Bounty is so often referred to that 

 the main outlines may well be recalled before dealing in de- 

 tail with the events that occurred during her stay in Adven- 

 ture Bay during August, 1788. 



H.M.S. Bounty was a vessel of 215 tons. Her extreme 

 deck length being 90ft. lOin., and beam 24ft. Sin. The height 

 in the hold under the main beams at main hatch was 10ft. .'3iii. 

 In the cockpit were the cabins of the surgeon, gunner, botan- 

 ist, and clerk, together with steward room and storeroom. 

 Between decks, the great cabin was arranged as a conserva- 

 tory, and reserved for the plants of the bread-fruit tree. The 

 great cabin extended from the stern to the after hatchway, 

 and had two large skylights and three scuttles for air. A 

 false floor was provided, which was cut full of holes for pots, 

 and the deck, or main floor, was covered with lead, from 

 which pipes led to tubs, in order that the water used for 

 watering the plants could be used on more than one occa- 

 sion. The master's and captain's cabins were immediately 

 forward of the conservatory. The ship's establishment 

 amounted to forty-four persons, and, in addition, there were 

 two botanists, appointed on the personal recommendation of 

 Sir Joseph Banks, who was taking a keen interest in tha 

 natural history of these southern lands. The botanists were 

 David Nelson, who had previously been with Cook, and his 

 assistant, William Brown. 



Bligh was appointed to the command on Ifith of August, 

 1787, and immediately began to take an active interest in the 

 fitting out of the vessel. At his instigation the ma.sts were 

 shortened, and leas ballast wan taken in, nineteen tons being 

 considered sufTicient, in place of the customary forty-five 

 tons. On the Dth of October the gunners' stores and guns, 

 four four-pounders and ten swivels, were taken aboard, and 

 the .ship was ready for sea. The provisions taken were 



