THE BREAD-FRUIT. 415 



and bravery, was appointed to the command. In 

 addition to the crew of the vessel, two men were 

 appointed at the recommendation of Sir Joseph 

 Banks, to take immediate charge of the procuring, 

 shipping, and tending of the plants. 



The Bounty was skilfully fitted up for her intended 

 purpose. A large cabin between decks, in mid- 

 ships, was prepared for the reception of the plants. 

 This had two large skylights on the top for light; 

 three scuttles on each side for ventilation of air, 

 and a double bottom; an upper one of timber on 

 which to place the pots and tubs containing the 

 plants, which was drilled full of holes to allow escape 

 to the superfluous water which might have injured 

 them by stagnation and a leaden one upon the lower 

 deck, in which the water that ran through the other 

 was collected, and from which it was conducted by 

 a leaden pipe at each corner, into casks below for 

 future use. 



Thus prepared, the vessel put to sea about the 

 middle of November 1787, but was beat about and 

 baffled by contrary winds, so that the voyage was 

 not commenced till the 23d of December. The in- 

 structions given to Lieutenant Bligh were full and 

 explicit. He was to resort to those places in the 

 Society Isles where Captain Cook had stated that the 

 bread-fruit tree was to be found in the greatest luxu- 

 riance, and there procure as many plants as the vessel 

 could carry; after which he was to proceed with them 

 to the West Indies with all possible expedition. 



The commander sailed first for Teneriffe, and 

 thence for the South of America, intending to enter 

 the Pacific by the passage of Cape Horn. But the 

 storms of that inhospitable region beat him back; 

 and he was forced to bear away for the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and reach the Society Islands on the side or 

 New Holland. This voyage, which had occupied 



