BLIGH'S VOYAGES 129 



10 40'. The master must not be surprized if he falls 

 in with a reef. He may be assured that with a little 

 attention he may explore a passage through it. In these 

 Straits he must find some harbour in which he may fill 

 water, which there cannot be any difficulty in per- 

 forming. 



" From thence to Prince's Island in the Straits of Sunda 

 will be the best run ; and if water should be wanted in the 

 passage, it may be procured at Java, where the Endeavour 

 watered. At Prince's Island the gardener will have some 

 trees to get on board, which may make it necessary to 

 spend some time there. From thence to the Isle of France 

 will be an easy run, and from thence round the Cape ; 

 at which place the ship must not touch unless there is 

 absolute necessity. They must proceed to St. Helena, 

 where she will receive orders from England pointing out 

 the places in the West Indies at which she is to touch 

 and deliver cargo." 



The commander chosen for this Expedition was 

 William Bligh, Lieutenant, R.N. ; who had already served 

 in Polynesia under Captain Cook, as Master on board the 

 Resolution. Since those days he had been with the Fleet 

 in the West Indies ; and now reached home from Jamaica 

 in August, 1787. He learned on arrival the " flattering 

 news " that Sir Joseph Banks was awaiting him, having 

 secured his appointment to the Bounty. 



The vessel was fitting out at Deptford. Bligh at once 

 joined her, and superintended the alterations in the 

 cabin and elsewhere, according to Banks's instructions. 

 The cabin was fitted with an extra floor, prepared for 

 the reception of flower-pots, according to the wishes of 

 the gardener, who preferred them to wooden casks. When 

 the ship got round to Spithead, David Nelson saw to the 

 embarkation of these pots, eight hundred in number, 

 of various sizes, " made deep to make room for more shells 

 for drainage." 



