244 THE SEA. 



each receiving a full pint. The 29th of May being the anniversary of the restoration 

 of Charles II., the spot was not inappropriately named Restoration Island. 



Bligh soon noted the alteration for the better in the looks of his men, which proved 

 the value of oysters, stewed, as they sometimes were, with fresh green palm-tops. Strange 

 to say, that the mutinous spirit, which had been satisfactorily absent before, broke out 

 in one or two of the men, and Bligh had, in one instance, to seize a cutlass and order 

 the man to defend himself. The threatened outbreak ended quietly. 



But although the worst of their voyage was over, their troubles in other ways were 

 serious. While among the islands off the coast of Australia several of them were seriously 

 affected with weakness, dizziness, and violent pains in their bowels. Infinitesimal quantities 

 of wine were administered, to their great benefit. A party was sent out on one of the islands 

 to catch birds, and they returned with a dozen noddies; these and a few clams were all 

 they obtained. On the 3rd of June they left Cape York, and once more launched their 

 little boat on the open ocean. On the 5th a booby was caught by the hand, the blood 

 of which was divided among three of the men who were weakest, and the bird kept for 

 next day's dinner. The following day the sea ran high, and kept breaking over the boat. 

 Mr. Ledward, the surgeon, and Lebogue, an old hardy sailor, appeared to be breaking 

 up fast, and no other assistance could be given them than a tea-spoonful or two of wine. 

 On the morning of the 10th there was a visible alteration for the worse in many of the 

 people. Their countenances were ghastly and hollow, their limbs swollen, and all extremely 

 debilitated ; some seeming to have lost their reason. But next day Bligh was able to 

 announce that they had passed the meridian of Timor, and the following morning land 

 was sighted with expressions of universal joy and satisfaction. Forty-one days had they 

 been on the ocean in their miserable boat, and by the log they had run 3,618 nautical 

 miles. On the 14th they arrived at Coupang Bay, where they were received with all 

 kinds of hospitality. The party on landing presented the appearance of spectres : their 

 bodies skin and bones, and covered with sores ; their clothing in rags. But the strain had 

 been too much for several of them. The botanist died at Coupang, three of the men at 

 Batavia, and one on the passage home. The doctor was left behind and not afterwards 

 heard of. Bligh arrived in England on March 14th, and received much sympathy. Ho 

 was immediately promoted, and afterwards successfully carried the bread-fruit tree to the 

 West Indies. Meantime the Government naturally proposed to bring the mutineers to 

 trial, whatever it might cost. 



The Pandora, a frigate of twenty-four guns, and one hundred and sixty men, was 

 selected for the service, and was placed under the command of Captain Edward Edwards, 

 with orders to proceed to Otaheite, and if necessary the other islands. The voyage was 

 destined to end in shipwreck and disaster, but the captain succeeded in securing a part 

 of the mutineers, of whom ten were brought to England, and four drowned on the 

 wreck. 



The Pandora reached Matavia Bay on the 23rd of March, 1791. The armourer and 

 two of the midshipmen, Mr. Heywood and Mr. Stewart, came off immediately, and showed 

 their willingness to afford information. Four others soon after appeared, and from them 

 the captain learned that the rest of the Bounty's people had built a schooner, and sailed 



