sight of the islands, which we were always passing, served only to increase the misery of our situation. We were very little better than starving, with plenty in view; yet to attempt procuring any relief was attended with so much danger, that prolonging of life, even in the midst of misery, was thought preferable, while there remained hopes of being able to surmount our hardships. For my own part, I considered the general run of cloudy and wet weather to be a blessing of Providence. Hot weather would have caused us to have died of thirst; and probably being so constantly covered with rain or sea, protected us from that dreadful calamity.

"Saturday, 16th. The sun breaking out through the clouds gave us hopes of drying our wet clothes; but the sunshine was of short duration. We had strong breezes at south-east by south, and dark, gloomy weather, with storms of thunder, lightning, and rain. The night was truly horrible, and not a star to be seen, so that our steerage was uncertain.

"Sunday, 17th.-At dawn of day I found every person complaining, and some of them solicited extra allowance, which I positively refused. Our situation was miserable; always wet, and suffering extreme cold during the night, without the least shelter from the weather. Being constantly obliged to bale to keep the boat from filling was perhaps not to be reckoned an evil, as it gave us exercise.

"Sunday, 24th.-A fine morning I had the pleasure to see produce some cheerful countenances; and the first time for fifteen days past we experienced comfort from the warmth of the sun. We stripped, and hung our clothes up to dry, which were by this time so threadbare that they would not keep out either wet or cold.

"Sailing on, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I at length became satisfied that we were approaching New Holland. This was actually the case; and after passing the reefs which bound that part of the coast we found ourselves in smooth water. Two islands lay about four miles to the west by north, and appeared eligible for a

resting-place, if for nothing more; but on our approach to the nearest island it proved to be only a heap of stones, and its size too inconsiderable to shelter the boat. We therefore proceeded to the next, which was close to it and towards the main. We landed to examine if there were any signs of the natives being near us; we saw some old fire-places, but nothing to make me apprehend that this would be an unsafe situation for the night. Every one was anxious to find something to eat, and it was soon discovered that there were oysters on the rocks, for the tide was out; but it was nearly dark, and only a few could be gathered. I determined, therefore, to wait till the morning, when I should know better how to proceed.

"Friday, 29th.-As there was no appearance to make me imagine that any of the natives were near us, I sent out parties in search of supplies, while others of the people were putting the boat in order. The parties returned highly rejoiced at having found plenty of oysters and fresh water. I had also made a fire by the help of a small magnifying-glass; what was still more fortunate, we found among the few things which had been thrown into the boat and saved, a piece of brimstone and a tinder-box, so that I secured fire for the future.

"Sunday, 31st.-Many small islands were in sight to the north-east. We landed at one of a good height, bearing north one-half west. The shore was rocky, but the water was smooth, and we landed without difficulty. I sent two parties out, one to the northward and the other to the southward, to seek for supplies, and others I ordered to stay by the boat. On this occasion fatigue and weakness so far got the better of their sense of duty that some of the people expressed their discontent at having worked harder than their companions, and declared that they would rather be without their dinner than go in search of it. One person in particular went so far as to tell me with a mutinous look that he was as good a man as myself. was not possible for me to judge where this might have an end if not stopped in time; therefore, to prevent such

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disputes in future, I determined either to preserve my command or die in the attempt, and seizing a cutlass I ordered him to take hold of another and defend himself, on which he called out that I was going to kill him, and immediately made concessions. I did not allow this to interfere further with the harmony of the boat's crew, and every thing soon became quiet. We here procured some oysters and clams, also some dog-fish caught in the holes of the rocks, and a supply of water.

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Leaving this island, which I named Sunday Island, we continued our course towards Endeavor Straits. During our voyage Nelson became very ill, but gradually recovered. Next day we landed at another island, to see what we could get. There were proofs that the island was occasionally visited by natives from New Holland. Encamping on the shore, I sent out one party to watch for turtle, and another to try to catch birds. About midnight the bird-party returned with only twelve noddies, birds about the size of pigeons; but if it had not been for the folly and obstinacy of one of the party, who separated from the other two and disturbed the birds, they might have caught a great number. I was so much provoked at my plans being thus defeated that I gave this offender a good beating. This man afterwards confessed that, wandering from his companions, he had eaten nine birds raw. Our turtling party had no success.

"Tuesday and Wednesday we still kept our course north-west, touching at an island or two for oysters and clams. We had now been six days on the coast of New Holland, and but for the refreshment which our visits to its shores afforded us, it is all but certain that we must have perished. Now, however, it became clear that we were leaving it behind, and were commencing our adventurous voyage through the open sea to Timor.

"For six days our voyage continued; a dreary repetition of those sufferings which we had experienced before reaching New Holland. In the course of the night we were constantly wet with the sea, and exposed to cold and

shiverings; and in the day-time we had no addition to our scanty allowance, except a 'booby' and a small dolphin that we caught, the former on Friday, 5th, and the latter on Monday, 8th. Many of us were ill, and the men complained heavily. On Wednesday, 10th, after a very comfortless night, there was a visible alteration for the worse in many of the people, which gave me great apprehensions. An extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow and ghastly countenances, a more than common inclination to sleep, with an apparent debility of understanding, seemed to me the melancholy presages of an approaching dissolution.

"Thursday, 11th.-Every one received the customary allowance of bread and water, and an extra allowance of water was given to those who were most in need. At noon I observed in latitude 9° 41′ south, course south 77° west, distance one hundred and nine miles; longitude made, 13° 49′ west. I had little doubt of having now passed the meridian of the eastern part of Timor, which is laid down in 128° east. This diffused universal joy and satisfaction.

"Friday, 12th.-At three in the morning, with an excess of joy, we discovered Timor, bearing from w.s.w. to w.N.W., and I hauled on a wind to the N.N.E. till daylight, when the land bore from s.w. by s. to N.E. by N.: our distance from the shore being two leagues. It is not possible for me to describe the pleasure which the sight of this land diffused among us. It appeared scarcely credible to ourselves that, in an open boat and so poorly provided, we should have been able to reach the coast of Timor in fortyone days after leaving Tofoa, having in that time run, by our log, a distance of 3618 miles; and that, notwithstanding our extreme distress, no one should have perished on the voyage.

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Sunday, 14th.-At one o'clock in the morning, after the most happy and sweet sleep that ever man enjoyed, we weighed, and continued to keep the east coast on board, in very smooth water. The report of two cannon that

were fired gave new life to every one, and soon after we discovered two square-rigged vessels and a cutter at anchor to the eastward. After hard rowing we came to a grapnel near daylight off a small fort or town, which the pilot told me was Coupang.

"We remained at Coupang two months, during which time we experienced every possible kindness. Having purchased a small schooner, which I named H.M. schooner Resource, I and the crew set off for Batavia. We reached that settlement on the 1st of October, where I sold the schooner, and endeavored to procure a passage for us to England. We were obliged to separate and go in different ships. I embarked on board a Dutch packet bound to Middleburgh, my clerk and a seaman with me. The Governor promised the others should follow as soon as possible in another ship. On the 13th of March, 1790, we sighted the Bill of Portland, and the next day, Sunday, 14th, I left the packet and was landed at Portsmouth by an Isle of Wight boat."

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We here terminate Lieutenant Bligh's journal, whose return to England under such singular circumstances, and the tale of his sufferings, with those of his boat's crew, cited universal sympathy at home. He was immediately promoted to the rank of commander, and soon after to that of post-captain, the three years' usual period of service having been dispensed with in his case; and his own account of the mutiny made him appear as a martyr, whose kindness and forbearance had met with a base return from a worthless ship's company. For the time being he was a hero, and little cared for the anguish endured by the families of the absent officers and men, who (as he knew) had taken no part in the mutiny. What communications Lieutenant Bligh received from the dif ferent relatives, and what replies he made, do not appear on record, except in the case of Peter Heywood, whose un