CHAPTER XIII 

 BLIGH VOYAGE OF "BOUNTY'S" LAUNCH, 1789 



MUTINY OF THE " BOUNTY " AT THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS. BLIGH AND EIGHTEEN OTHERS 

 SET ADRIFT IN THE LAUNCH. BLIGH MAKES FOR TlMOR, VIA NEW HOLLAND. 

 SCANTY PROVISIONS. REACHES CAPE DIRECTION. COASTS NORTHWARD. LLOYD 

 BAY. RESTORATION ISLAND. FAIR CAPE. CARRON RANGE. CAPE GRENVILLE. 

 LANDING ON SUNDAY ISLAND. INCIPIENT MUTINY QUELLED. FISH AND OYSTERS. 

 BIRD, HANNIBAL AND BUSHY ISLANDS. BOYDONG CAYS. THE MAINLAND. NAMES 

 PUDDING PAN HILL. ORFORD NESS. ESCAPE RIVER. TURTLE ISLAND. WEDNES- 

 DAY ISLAND. THROUGH PRINCE OF WALES CHANNEL. BOOBY ISLAND. ARRIVES 

 AT TIMOR, GETS A PASSAGE IN A DUTCH VESSEL AND REACHES PLYMOUTH. WHO 

 NAMED TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ISLANDS ? FATE OF THE " BOUNTY " 

 MUTINEERS. 



WILLIAM BLIGH was born in Cornwall about 1753. 

 He was Sailing Master of the " Resolution" in Captain 

 Cook's Second Expedition. In 1781 he took part in 

 the naval action off the Dogger Bank, and next year 

 fought under Howe at Gibraltar. 



The story of the MUTINY OF THE " BOUNTY " has been so often 

 told that it need only be referred to here as the event which led 

 to Bligh's acquaintance with the Cape York Peninsula and Torres 

 Strait, which is our immediate concern. His memorable voyage 

 in the "BOUNTY'S" LAUNCH brings into prominence the charac- 

 teristic faults and virtues of one who was at the same time a capable 

 and courageous navigator and an insufferable master. 



The story is told in two books issued by Bligh. The first may 

 be referred to, by way of " short title," as the Narrative x and 

 the second as the Voyage* The 'Narrative was written and 

 published with all possible speed as Bligh's vindication of his 

 conduct, and commences with the departure of the ship from 

 Otaheite on 4th April, 1789, reviews the incidents of the mutiny 

 of 29th April, and ends with Bligh's arrival at Portsmouth on 



1 A Narrative of the Mutiny on board His Majesty's Ship "Bounty," and the Subsequent 

 Voyage of Part of the Crew in the Ship's Boat, from Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, 

 to Timor, written by Lieutenant William Bligh. Illustrated with Charts. London, 1790. 



' A Voyage to the South Seas, undertaken by command of His Majesty for the Purpose 

 of Conveying the Bread Fruit Tree to the West Indies, in His Majesty's Ship the "Bounty," 

 commanded by Lieutenant William Bligh, including an Account of the Mutiny on board 

 the said Ship, and the Subsequent Voyage of Part of the Crew, in the Ship's Boat, from 

 Tofua, one of the Friendly Islands, to Timor, a Dutch Settlement in the East Indies ; the 

 Whole illustrated by Charts, etc., Published by Permission of the Lords Commissioners of the 

 Admiralty, London, 1792. 



I- 7 97 



