48 ARRIVAL AT COUPANG. 
swain had thrown into the launch before they 
left the Bounty, they had made a small jack, 
which was hoisted in the main shrouds, as a 
signal of distress; "for," says Bligh, "I did 
not think proper to land without leave." 
Soon after daybreak, at the Dutch settlement 
of Coupang, a soldier hailed them to land, and 
what was their delight, in making their way 
through a crowd of natives, who stood gazing 
upon their emaciated forms with wonder and 
pity, to meet with an ENGLISH SAILOR ! This 
man, who belonged to one of the vessels in the 
road, at once told them, that his Captain was 
the second person in the town of Coupang. To 
him the party were conducted; and certainly 
Captain Spikerman, though not quite the second 
man in the place, was a living example of the 
truth of the good old proverb, "A friend in 
need is a friend indeed." He received them 
into his house, took care of them, and introduced 
them to the governor. They met with the most 
friendly and hospitable treatment from the go- 
vernor, Mr. Adrian Van Este, though he was in 
a very ill state of health. He sent a message, 
regretting that illness prevented his befriending 
them in person ; but he committed them to the 
care of Mr. Wanjon, his son-in-law; who, with 
other leading persons at Coupang, made every 
effort to render their situation comfortable. 
The picture given of the landing, displays in 
a striking manner the sad condition of these af- 
flicted creatures, and the feelings excited in their 
preservers. "Our bodies were nothing but skin 
and bones; our limbs were full of sores, and we 
