DESERTION OF THREE SEAMEN. 23 
she was laughed at exceedingly. Tinah and all 
the other chiefs enjoyed the joke; and after 
making many inquiries about the British women, 
they strictly enjoined me, when I came again, 
to bring a ship full of them." 
The people had also formed a vast idea of 
the beauty of English ladies from the head of 
the ship in their harbour. This was a striking 
wood-carving of a large-featured female, the 
highly-coloured figure-head of the Bounty, which 
they greatly admired. 
During the interchange of friendly civilities 
and hospitable receptions, both on board the 
Bounty and on shore, some thefts were com- 
mitted by the natives, owing to the negligence of 
the Bounty s crew. Soon afterwards, Churchill, 
Muspratt, and Millward, three of the men be- 
longing to the ship, deserted, carrying with 
them the small cutter, a chest of fire-arms, and 
ammunition. They were quickly taken by Bligh, 
with the help of some of the natives, at a neigh- 
bouring island, Tettaha. These three deserters 
wrote a letter of humble acknowledgment to 
their captain, for his clemency in not bringing 
them to trial. They promised good conduct in 
future : but he was deceived by their fair profes- 
sions ; and they were soon afterwards mutineers 
of a more daring order. In their original de- 
sertion and robbery, they had been guilty of 
an atrocious crime; and their case affords one, 
among many instances which might be quoted, 
of the danger of passing over the first outbreak 
of a rebellious spirit. Like a fire, if not put out 
at once, it will be sure to spread. The deserters' 
