THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 43 



into the tropical colonies of Great Britain to furnish 

 food for the slaves. 



The narratives of Cook and other explorers had 

 encouraged the highest expectations of the benefits 

 which would result from the culture of the bread-fruit- 

 tree. The English colonists entreated their govern- 

 ment to obtain for them this wonderful tree ; a vessel 

 specially fitted for the purpose was got ready and 

 placed under the command of Bligh, then only a lieu- 

 tenant, but afterwards an admiral. The selection of 

 the commander was judicious ; for Bligh had accom- 

 panied Cook in his voyages and given on many occa- 

 sions proofs of his talents and his gallantry. Leaving 

 England in 1787, the expedition arrived in six months 

 at Otaheiti. The islanders received them hospitably ; 

 more than a thousand plants were put in pots and 

 boxes and taken on board, with a sufficient quantity 

 of fresh water to keep them alive, and five months 

 afterwards the precious cargo was floating towards its 

 destination. But in spite of all the happy auspices 

 under which the return voyage was begun, it had an 

 unfortunate ending. It furnished one of those ex- 

 amples, happily rare, of the revolt of a crew and 

 the desperate position of a captain left to the mercy 

 of the mutineers in the midst of the silent ocean. 

 Twenty-two days after they had left Otaheiti the 

 greater part of the crew having joined in a most 

 cowardly plot, seized Bligh during the night and 

 placed him with the eighteen that remained faithful to 

 him in a long boat with some provisions and instru- 

 ments, and leaving them alone in the middle of the 



