VOYAGE OF "BOUNTY'S" LAUNCH 101 



to the highest peak (157 feet), and named the scene of the dis- 

 turbance SUNDAY ISLAND. On rejoining the boat, he steered 

 NW. by N., in which direction he saw a small " key," alongside 

 which he grappled at night. At dawn on the following day 

 (Monday, 1st June), he landed, and named LAGOON KEY. This 

 was the south-western of Cook's BIRD ISLANDS. He observed the 

 shells and tracks of turtles, but the only edibles collected were 

 clams and dolichos (beans). The ruins of a native dwelling were 

 observed. 



" After 8 o'clock, Mr. Samuel and Mr. Peckover went out to watch for turtle, 

 and three men went to the east [north-east] key to endeavour to catch birds. All 

 the others, complaining of being sick, took their rest, except Mr. Heywood [Hayward] 

 and Mr. Elphinston, whom I directed to keep watch. About midnight, the bird 

 party returned, with only 12 noddies, birds which I have already described to be about 

 the size of pigeons ; but if it had not been for the folly and obstinacy of one of the 

 party, Robert Lamb, (This man, when he went to Java, acknowledged he had eaten 

 nine birds raw after he separated from his two companions), who separated from the 

 other two and disturbed the birds, they must have caught a great number. I was 

 so much provoked at my plans being thus defeated that I gave the offender a good 

 beating. I now [Tuesday, 2nd June] went in search of the turtling party, who had 

 taken great pains, but without success." 



The party embarked at dawn on Tuesday, 2nd June, and set 

 a course N. by W. In about two leagues, the sea became very 

 rough, from which Bligh inferred that he was opposite an open 

 channel in the Barrier Reef. Beyond this there was a large shoal, 

 (V Reef), on which were two sandy keys. Between these keys 

 and two others, 4 miles to the west (HANNIBAL and BUSHY ISLANDS), 

 Bligh passed on his way northward. His journal continues : 



" Towards noon, I fell in with six other keys [BOYDONG CAYS and HALFWAY ISLAND. 

 R. L. J.], most of which produced some small trees and brushwood. These formed 

 a pleasing contrast with the mainland we had passed, which was full of sandhills, 

 and the northmost land . . . appeared like downs, sloping towards the sea. Nearly 

 abreast of us was a flat-topped hill, which, on account of its shape, I called PUDDING 

 PAN HiLL, 1 and a little to the north were two other hills which we called THE PAPS, 

 and here was a small tract of country without sand, the eastern part of which forms 

 a cape [ORFORD NESS. R. L. J.], whence the coast inclines to the NW. by N." [SEE 

 MAP A.] 



At noon, Bligh observed the latitude of 11 18' S., the Cape 

 bearing W., at an estimated distance of 10 miles. A few miles 

 further, " five small keys bore W. [SW. ?], distant 4 miles. My 

 course from the Lagoon Island had been N.iW., distance 30 miles." 



This day the gunner's watch was lost, so that, as Bligh re- 

 marked, " sunrise, noon and sunset for the future were the only 

 points of time accurately known." 



1 The tragic events which followed Kennedy's mistaking a similar sandstone-capped 

 hill, 50 miles to the south, for Pudding Pan Hill, are related in a subsequent chapter. 

 R. L. J. 



