56 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, seat in the boat was Martin, which being noticed by Quintal, he pointed 
a musket at him, and declared he would shoot him unless he instantly 
Dec. returned to the ship, which he did. The armourer and carpenter’s 
mates were also forcibly detained, as they might be required hereafter. 
Lieutenant Bligh was then conducted to the gangway, and ordered 
to descend into the boat, where his hands were unbound, and he and 
his party were veered astern, and kept there while the ship stood 
towards the island. During this time Lieutenant Bligh requested some 
muskets, to protect his party against the natives; but they were re- 
fused, and four cutlasses thrown to them instead. When they were 
about ten leagues from Tofoa, at Lieutenant Bligh’s request, the launch 
was cast off, and immediately “ Huzza for Otaheite!” echoed through- 
out the Bounty. 
There now remained in the ship, Christian, who was the mate, 
Heywood, Young, and Stewart, midshipmen, the master-at-arms, and 
sixteen seamen, besides the three artificers, and the gardener ; forming 
in all twenty-five. 
In the launch were the lieutenant, master, surgeon, a master’s 
mate, two midshipmen, botanist, three warrant-officers, clerk, and eight 
seamen, making in all nineteen ; and had not the three persons above 
mentioned been forcibly detained, the captain would have had exactly 
half the ship’s company. It may perhaps appear strange to many, that 
with so large a party in his favour. Lieutenant Bligh made no attempt 
to retake the vessel ; but the mutiny was so ably conducted that no 
opportunity was afforded him of doing so; and the strength of the crew 
was decidedly in favour of Christian. Lieutenant Bligh’s adventures 
and sufferings, until he reached Timor, are well known to the public, 
and need no repetition. 
The ship, having stood some time to the W. N. W., with a view 
to deceive the party in the launch, was afterwards put about, and her 
course directed as near to Otaheite as the wind would permit. In a 
few days they found some difficulty in reaching that island, and bore 
away for Tobouai, a small island about 300 miles to the southward of 
it, where they agreed to establish themselves, provided the natives, who 
were numerous, were not hostile to their purpose. Of this they had 
very early intimation, an attack being made upon a boat which they 
