INTEMPERANCE. 117 
life often bears a startling likeness to the sin 
which has been committed, and which not only 
thus finds the offender out, but shows him that 
it has done so. Within the narrow limits of the 
island, as in the confines of a ship, Christian had 
enemies at hand, who harassed, and at length 
took away his life ; and it is a remarkable fact, 
that he who had raised his hand in a criminal 
manner against his superior in command, should 
have suffered death from those whom he looked 
upon as men under his authority. 
Nor must it be forgotten, that one chief cause 
of all the quarrels and miseries of the mutineers 
was intemperance. M'Coy had unhappily 
become acquainted with the art of distilling. 
With the aid of a copper boiler, which had been 
taken from the Bounty, and which was altered 
into a still, he soon made an ardent spirit out of 
the ti-root [Dracaena terminalis). This served 
to thin yet further the number of the original 
male settlers, until only one of them was left 
remaining. 
It pleased God to touch the heart of that one, 
and to make him an instrument of good to those 
around him. His deceased comrades had left 
families, who had been brought up in ignorance 
of their God and Saviour, all the women being 
Otaheitan idolaters. One Bible, and one only, 
which had been occasionally read by Christian 
and Young, remained — this inestimable treasure 
having been rescued from the Bounty. Here 
was a merciful provision for guiding Adams, 
and those around him, in the right way, and 
making them wise unto salvation ! It may even 
