22 DESEETION OF THREE SEAMEN. 
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 large 
wood carving of a female, which was the figure- 
head of the Bounty. 
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; and soon afterwards 
Churchill, Muspratt, and Millward, three of the 
men belonging 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 neighbouring island, Tettaha. These three 
deserters wrote a letter of humble acknowledg- 
ment to their captain, for his clemency in not 
bringing them to trial, and promised good con- 
duct in future : but they were soon afterwards 
mutineers of a more daring order. In their 
original desertion 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. Their letter to 
Bligh, a copy of which has been preserved, dated, 
on board the Bounty ', at Otaheite, January 26th, 
1789, was as follows : 
" SIR, We should think ourselves wholly 
inexcusable if we omitted taking the earliest 
opportunity of returning our thanks for your 
