382 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



2.— DISCOVERY OF PITCAIRN ISLAND- 

 MUTINY OF THE " BOUNTY "—LIFE OF THE MUTINEERS ON 

 PITC4.IRN AND THEIR REMOVAL TO NORFOLK 

 ISLAND. 



By A. C. MACDONALD, F.R.G.S. 



A LITTLE less than a centurj^ and a half ago the existence of 

 Otaheite was totally unknown alike to navigators of Europe and 

 the savages of the South Seas. It is the largest of that group called 

 the Society Islands, which stretch away east by south, dotting the 

 bosom of the Pacific as with emeralds and coral for the space of 

 2,000 miles. Otaheite, so celebrated in the voyages of CaptairL 

 Cook, and so remarkable for its natural beauties, lies about 17 

 degrees south latitude and 149 degrees west longitude. Nearly 

 the last of this series of enchanting islets is Pitcairn Island, about 

 25 degrees 30 minutes south latitude and 139 degrees 30 minutes 

 west longitude. It is an outlying and inconsiderable island, beyond 

 the path of the great seaway of commerce. It has an almost ever 

 sunny clime, and nature scatters her gifts with lavish hand. 



At a distance of 45 miles it appeared at first as a high spiral 

 rock rising out of the sea. but on drawing nearer to its shores it was 

 seen to be a perfect island, seven miles in circumference and over 

 1,000 feet high. Owing to stormy weather at the time a landing 

 could not be effected, and the discovery was briefly noted in the 

 logbook of the " Swallow." 



It was on the 4th of April, 1789, that the ill-fated " Bounty," 

 another vessel which hoisted British colours, and commanded by 

 Lieutenant Bligh, left Otaheite laden with 1,015 living plants of 

 the breadfruit tree, with which the Imperial Government had 

 proposed to enrich our West Indian Colonies. Her homeward 

 voyage seemed likely to be prosperous. 



Commander Bligh was, unfortunately, of an unhappy disposi- 

 tion — exacting, imperious, despotic. He had neither the art nor 

 grace to mingle sympathy with rigid discipline, and he contrived 

 to destroy that unity of feeling which is the best security for the 

 harmonious working of every machinery of Governm.ent, whether 

 on shipboard or the larger vessel of State. 



There was on board the " Bounty/' acting in the capacity of 

 master's mate, one Fletcher Christian, a young man who came of a 

 respectable family in the north of England ; he had excellent talents, 

 but his temper was hot and revengeful. Christian determined to be 

 revenged on Bligh for the insults heaped upon himself and others^ 

 and conspired with some of the crew to seize the vessel. 



The mutiny broke out on the night of the 27th April, 1789. 

 As morning approached, Christian, who was officer of the watch, 

 accompanied by three others, entered the Commander's cabin and 



