INSULAR AUSTRALASIA. 1281 



King's own family, and by people of all classes. They made affidavits to the effect that 

 Mr. Baker had ruined Tonga, that disturbances had been caused by his actions, that 

 more would certainly follow, and that Mr. Baker's life was in danger as long as he 

 remained in the Group. After consideration and enquiry, the High Commissioner first 

 notified Mr. Baker on the 5th of July of his intention, and on the 171)1 of July he 

 issued an order prohibiting him from residing in the Group for the space of two years, 

 as being a person dangerous to the peace and good order of the Western Pacific. This 

 action has since been approved of by the British Government. On receipt of the order, 

 Mr. Baker left Tonga for Auckland. The King had dismissed him from all offices, and 

 appointed the Hon. George Tukuaho as Premier. His Majesty also, at the request of 

 the High Commissioner, formally proclaimed complete freedom of worship in accordance 

 with the Constitution of Tonga, the release of all who were imprisoned without proper 

 cause, and the return of all those who were exiled to Fiji and Tofua. His Excellency 

 the High Commissioner, at the request of the King, directed Mr. Basil H. Thomson 

 to assist the Government for a limited period in carrying out some necessary reforms. 

 The Government was found to be heavily indebted to officials for salaries over-due, and 

 to other creditors, but these liabilities, with the exception of some of the salaries due, 

 were all met before the end of the year. Taxation is decreased, many of the oppres- 

 sive laws are being modified or entirely repealed, and peace and harmony are again 

 restored to this beautiful and interesting Group. 



LORD HOWE AN-O NORFOLK ISLANDS. 



^HE well-known history of the "Mutiny of the Bounty" is one of the romantic 

 episodes of South Sea Island story. It was from that remarkable event that the 

 colonization of Pitcairn Island dated, and its connection with Norfolk Island is derived 

 from the fact that the descendants of the old mutineers, who had first settled on the 

 former Island, were removed thither in June, 1856. Some of them returned again to their 

 original settlement in 1859, an d these were followed by another party in 1864, so that the 

 relationship between the two Islands has been in some measure maintained. The story of 

 the mutiny has been often told. Captain William Bligh, afterwards Governor of New 

 South Wales, was dispatched in the Bounty, in 1787, on a mission to introduce the 

 bread-fruit tree from Otaheite to the British West India possessions. Until the ship's 

 arrival at Otaheite, the voyage had passed unmarked by any remarkable incidents, although 

 Bligh had succeeded in making himself unpopular with his officers and men by his seven- 

 measures of discipline. The Bounty left Otaheite on the 7th of April, 1789, with a supply 

 of bread-fruit trees on board, and on the 28th of the same month the vessel was pirati- 

 cally seized by the crew while in the neighbourhood of Tofoa, one of the Friendly Islands. 

 Just before sunrise Bligh was awakened by a party of sailors under the command of Acting- 

 Lieutenant Christian, who rushed into the cabin and placed him under arrest. He was 

 bound, and a guard placed at the doors of the officers who remained faithful to him. 

 They were then brought on deck, the launch was hoisted out, and Bligh and his party 

 were ordered into the boat. They were allowed to take twine, lines, sails, cordage, and a 

 twenty-eight gallon cask of water, with one hundred and fifty pounds of bread, and a small 



