PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
53 
Dec. 
1825. 
that any thing appeared preferable to enduring them, and he de- CHAP 
termined, as he could not redress them, that he would at least escape 
from the possibility of their being increased. Absence from England 
and a long residence at Otaheite, where new connexions were formed’, 
weakened the recollection of his native country, and prepared his mind 
for the reception of ideas which the situation of the ship and the 
serenity of the moment particularly favoured. His plan, strange as it 
must appear for a young officer to adopt, who was fairly advanced in an 
honourable profession, was to set himself adrift upon a raft, and make 
his way to the island then in sight. As quick in the execution as in 
the design, the raft was soon constructed, various useful articles were 
got together, and he was on the point of launching it, when a young 
officer, who afterwards perished in the Pandora, to whom Christian 
communicated his intention, recommended him, rather than risk his 
life on so hazardous an expedition, to endeavour to take possession of 
the ship, which he thought would not be very difficult, as many of the 
ship’s company were not well disposed towards the commander, and 
would ah be very glad to return to Otaheite, and reside among their 
riends in that island. This daring proposition is even more extra- 
or inary t an the premeditated scheme of his companion, and, if true, 
certainly relieves Christian from part of the odium which has hitherto 
attached to him as the sole instigator of the mutiny *. 
It however accorded too well with the disposition of Christian’s 
mind and, hazardous as it was, he determined to co-operate with his 
1 ^ resolving, if he failed, to throw himself into the 
sea ; ana that there might be no chance of being saved, he tied a deep 
sea lead about his neck, and concealed it within his clothes. 
Dstian happened to have the morning watch, and as soon as he 
had relieved the officer of the deck, he entered into conversation with 
Quintal, the only one of the seamen who, Adams said, had formed anv 
serious attachment at Otaheite ; and after expatiating on the hapDV 
hours they had passed there, disclosed his intentions. Quintal, after 
