DEPARTURE OF THE BOUNTY. 17 
the crumb of wheaten bread, and found to be 
very nutritive. Captain Wm. Dampier,* 
who sailed round the world in the year 1688, 
described the bread-fruit as having " neither 
seed nor stone in the inside ; but all is of 
pure substance like bread. It must be eaten 
new; for if it is kept above twenty-four 
hours, it grows harsh and choaky ; but it is 
very pleasant before it is too stale. This 
fruit lasts in season eight months in the year, 
during which the natives of Guam eat no 
other sort of food of bread kind. I did never," 
says he, " see of this fruit anywhere but here. 
The natives told us that there is plenty of 
this fruit growing on the rest of the L'adrone 
Islands ; and I did never hear of it anywhere 
else." 
The Bounty of nearly 215 tons burden, 
left Spithead on the 23d of December, 1787, 
carrying forty-six persons, including the 
commander, and a botanist, and gardener. 
They started with a fresh breeze, easterly, 
* An old English navigator, born in 1652, whose name 
is associated with that of the celebrated Alexander Sel- 
kirk, who sailed iii company with him. Selkirk's won- 
derful adventures suggested to De Foe the idea of his 
inimitable Robinson Crusoe. 
