92 



revert to the story of the "Bounty," which had also reached Otaheite 

 with the mutineers one year and nine months before the " Pandora," 

 viz., on the 6th of June, 1789. 



Christian's first object was to revictual the ship, and being, as 

 we have already seen, a great favourite with the natives, he had no 

 difficulty in obtaining supplies, including a quantity of live stock 

 descended from the cattle, goats, and hogs which had been presented to 

 the Otaheitans by Captain Cook. With these supplies, and accompanied 

 by nine native men, ten women, and several boys, the mutineers sailed 

 in the "Bounty" for the island of Tonbouia, which seems to have been 

 pitched upon by Christian because of its remoteness from the track of 

 ships, and where, in Morrison's words, "he hoped to be permitted to 

 end his days in peace, which was all he now desired, knowing that he 

 had taken such steps as had for ever debarred him from returning to 

 England, or any civilised place." On the 23rd of June, 1789, after a 

 very rough passage, they reached the island, and proceeded to land the 

 stock and provisions, whilst Christian arranged with the chief for the 

 purchase of land on which to build a fort and make a settlement. But 

 before their arrangements were completed, Christian's plans were frus- 

 trated by the disaffection of many of his followers. Some who thought 

 their share in the mutiny had not been such as to preclude them from 

 the hope of pardon, began to quail before the prospect of dragging out the 

 rest of their existence on this desolate reef, and clamoured to return to 

 Otaheite, where they would be sure before long to fall in with an English 

 ship. Others, consisting of the most lawless and depraved members of the 

 party, disgusted Christian with their cruelty and injustice towards the 

 natives, and especially the women, who are described by Morrison as 

 possessing great personal attractions. As long as the mutiny of the 

 " Bounty" is told in our language, I hope it will also be recorded that 

 Fletcher Christian preferred to brave the anger of these ruffians and risk 

 his own life rather than permit such wrongs to be continued. It was at 

 length agreed that the settlement should be abandoned, that all should 

 return to Otaheite in the " Bounty," that those who declined to abide by 

 Christian's regulations and follow his fortunes should be left tbej-e, and 



