1789 15 Oct. Supplies obtained from the natives. muster. They become hostile. Prepara tions for May 1st. The weather continued so windy that I could not proceed to sea. Sent a party away at dawn of day to take another route in search of supplies. They found out the residence of the natives, who brought us a few bread-fruit, cocoanutts, and a few shells of water, which I bought for buttons of our jackets. sundown they left us with a promise to bring larger supplies in the morning. Spent the night as before. At 2nd. The weather continued windy. In the morning the natives came to us with bread-fruit, &c., as yesterday, and also two chiefs, Eegyeefou and Maccaaccabou. Soon after two cannoes came in The natives from a distant part of the island, and the natives were hourly encreasing. The chiefs became acquainted with our situation—that the ship had sunk and we only were saved, and that I intended to go to Paulehow, their king. This seemed to give them pleasure, and Eegyeefou agreed as soon as it moderated to go with me. The readyness with which this man appeared to consent to go with me to Amsterdam gave me reason to think we should remain on good terms with these people, but unhappily I had soon cause to know the contrary. The natives began to be very troublesome, and made signs of hostilities towards us. I, however, thought they would go off at sundown, as they had done before, and that then I could leave the place without risk; but the reverse was the case. Three cannoes were now come in, and places fixed on for their residence during the night. I therefore determined to do our best while it was light, and departure. directed some of the provisions I had bought to be put into the boat. The chiefs now desired me to remain on shore for the night, notwithstanding they perceived that I saw all their people arming with clubs and stones. The things being put into the boat, we were all on the go, when an inferior chief* took me by the hand, pressing me to stay. I kept hold of this man, and w'th my people now proceeded down the beach amidst a silent degree of horror on both sides. Nageetee left me, and all except one man got into the boat, who, while I was getting in, observing the stemfast not cast off, ran up the beach to effect it, notwithstanding I heard the master and others calling to him to return, while they were hauling me out of the water. The attack now began, with a shower of stones that flew like shot. The unfortunate poor man on shore† was killed instantly, and we were all more or less bruized and wounded. As I hauled out to our grapnel, I hoped they could Pursued and no longer annoy us; but here I was mistaken, for they launched their cannoes and stoned us untill I got a league from the land. We could not close with them, because it was not in the power of men to do it with so heavy a boat; they therefore took their distance to throw their shot, which they did with such execution that but a short time longer would have rendered us incapable of *Note in MS.--Nageetee. Attacked by natives. stoned. † Quartermaster Norton. 1789 15 Oct. from the rowing, when they would first have stoned us to death and then taken the boat. I therefore, as the only thing left to save our lives, exhorted every one to persevere in rowing; and throwing overboard some cloaths which beguiled them and they lost time in taking up, together with the night coming on, we very miraculously escaped. Escape. Taking this as a real sample of their natural dispositions, there No help were little hopes to expect much where I was going, for I con- natives. sidered their good behaviour hitherto owing to a dread of our fire arms, which now knowing us to have none would not be the case; and that supposing our lives were safe, our boat, compass, and quadrant would all be taken from me, and, thereby, I should not be able to return to give an account of the transaction. I was sollicited by all hands to take them towards home, and when I told them no hopes of relief for us remained, but what I might find at New Holland, untill I came to Timor, a distance of 1,200 leag's, where was a Dutch Governor, but that I could not recollect at what part of the island he resided, they all agreed to live on one ounce of bread per day and a jill of water. I therefore, after examining our stock of provisions, which I found to consist of 150 lbs. bread, 28 galls. of water, 20 lbs. of pork, 3 bottles of wine, and 5 quarts of rum, and recommending for ever to their memory the promise they had made, bore away for New Holland, and from thence to Timor, a distance of 1,200 leag's, across a sea Bound for where the navigation is dangerous and but little known; and in a small boat deep loaded, and with 18 souls, without a single map, and nothing but my own recollection and general knowledge of the situation of places, assisted by an old book of latitude and longitude to guide me. Short allowance. Timor. the muting. The secresy of this mutiny was beyond all conception, and sur- Secrecy of prising it is that out of thirteen of the party who came with me, and lived always forward near the people and among them, no one could discover some symptoms of their bad intentions. With such deep-plann'd acts of villany, and my mind free of any suspicions, it is not wonderfull that I have been got the better of. I slept always with my cabbin door open for the officer of the watch to have access to me on all occasions, for the possibility of such a catastrophe was ever the farthest from my thoughts. To assign the cause of such a resolution we can only imagine Cause of the from the huzzas of the mutineers that they have promised them- mutiny. selves greater pleasure and advantages at Otaheite than they were likely to meet with in their native country. To this land of guile they are certainly returned-a land where they need not labour, and where the allurements of dissipation are more than equal to anything that can be conceived. For particulars I must beg leave to refer their Lordships to my journal. Christian was the officer of the deck, and the whole watch being The whole concerned, except the two midshipmen, who had no suspicions of watch concerne d. 1789 15 Oct. Stormy weather. Islands discovered. Sufferings from wet and cold. The Australian coast sighted. what their officer was about, it is not surprising that the buziness [Here follow lists previously transcribed.]† 1789, May 3rd.-To return to my proceedings in the boat. I steered to the W.N.W., as I formerly had heard from the Friendly Island people that land lay in that quarter. The weather continued very stormy and the sea run so very high that we had reason to expect to founder every instant. Unhappily we were obliged to throw many of our necessaries over board to lighten the boat, and we underwent great fatigue in bailing, and were miserably cold and wet in the nights. May 4th. On this day I discovered an island W.S.W., 4 or 5 leagues from me when I was in lat'd 18° 58′ S. 182° 16′ E't. 6th. On to-day I discovered ten other islands, and at noon was in the lat'd 17° 53′ So., 179° 43′ E't. 7th. This day I discovered other islands, and at noon was in lat'd 16° 33' So., 178° 34' E't, when I was chased by two large cannoes. Storms of thunder, lightning, and rain; caught 6 gallons of water. 9th.-Fair w'r ; kept steering to the W.N.W. and west. 10th. Very heavy rains; hard gales and a high sea unto the 14th, constantly bailing, and suffering every degree of distress. 14th.-Discovered 5 islands, and was at noon in 13° 29′ So., 169° 21'. 15th. Discovered an island, latd., noon, 13° 4' S., 167° 35′ East. Hard gales and a high sea with thunder, lightning, and rain, and very dark dismal nights, not a star to be seen to steer by. Keeping the boat before the sea, constantly wet and suffering every calamity and distress. May 21st. Most dreadfull weather, and the rain fell so heavy that we could scarce keep the boat from filling. 24th. To the 24th the weather and sea continued very bad. We now dreaded the nights, for we were all benumbed with cold, being constantly wet. To act against the evils attending such a situation, I could only order every one when our cloaths became filled with water to strip naked and wring them, and when only wet by the rain to dip them first in the sea, so that this was the only resource we had for dry cloaths. At 28th. To the 28th the weather became better, when at midnight I fell in with the reefs of New Holland, the sea broke dreadfully high; I stood off shore for the night; at dawn of day stood in for the reefs again to search for a passage within it. 9 in the morning I saw the reef again, and soon after standing along it to the northward, I discovered an opening which I safely Ante, pp. 691, 692. * Post, pp. 704-706. 1789 15 Oct. Inside the entered, and happily got into smooth water. Lat'd of the channel 12° 50′ S., 145° 08′ E't. At past 5 in the afternoon I got into a bay on an island about of a mile from the main, and finding it uninhabited, I determined on searching for supplies. Night pre- reef. vented us from doing more than gathering a few oysters which we found on a bed of rocks near the boat; it was, however, a great relief to us. As our boat was only large enough to admit onehalf of us to rest at a time, I directed that one party should sleep sleeping on on shore, so that every one was to be ready to go in search of shore. supplies at dawn of day. May 29.-After a quiet and undisturbed night's rest we began to employ ourselves about what was to be done, and in an half hour I heard the joyfull tydings that fine fresh water was found. Water and Oysters were plenty, but it was with much difficulty we could oysters. break them from the rocks. However, a sufficient quantity was got to give us a good meal. I had great difficulty in getting a fire, but at last effected it by a small magnifying glass. I found no other supply to be expected here, except a few berries which were eat by the birds, and, therefore, every person had ventured to take as many as their stomachs would bear. Weakness, with a dizzyness in the head, and an extreme tenes- Sickness. mus, were our only complaints. We discovered signs of the natives having been here, but the marks did not appear to be very recent. I was therefore not apprehensive, and permitted one-half of us to sleep on shore at night, as I had done before. for sea. 30th. In the morning I found every one vastly benefitted by their being here. I sent the parties out to gather oysters, and Preparing others filled our water-casks and got the boat ready for sea. Mr. Nelson found some fern root that I thought wholesome and very condusive to prevent thirst. For that reason I ordered a quantity of it into the boat. On caught. Birds could have been easily got here if I had had arms. that account every one we saw recalled to us our miserable situation; but Providence has been graciously kind to us, for we frequently caught with our hands sea fowl, which made great Birds addition to our dinner of bread. As a supply of water the rain was a great blessing to us, but I had not vessels to contain a sufficient quantity. It therefore happened that two gills, or a The half pint of water, was what each person received in the course of the day, issued at 8 in the morning, at noon, and at sunset, with of a lb. of bread at breakfast and the same at dinner, sometimes giving an allowance for supper. I found the lat'd. of this place 12° 39′ S., 144° 44'. The main appeared with a variety of high and low land interspersed with wood, and the more interior parts mountainous. I called it Restoration Isl'd. allowance of water. 1789 15 Oct. Natives. Inhabited islands. Shell-fish and water. Illness. A gale. rounded. 31.-At 4 in the afternoon, after having performed prayers, 1 sailed. About 20 natives came down on the opposite shore, armed with spears. They were black, and waved to us to come to them. I steered along shore to the N.N.W. and N.W. b. N. in the direction of the coast. Saw several islands, and at 8 in the morning passed through a cluster, and saw more natives armed in the same manner, and made the same signs as those I had seen before. I, however, did not land. The appearance of the country is totally changed, being very low, and mostly sand hills. Landed on an island, and gathered (shell fish) oysters and a few clams. Found fine rain water in a hollow of rocks, which again enabled us to fill up our sea store. From the heights of this island I saw a small key to the N. W. b. N. As my situation was too near the main, having discovered at this place the natives to have large cannoes, I again prepared to sail, so as to reach the key before night. At noon dined on oysters and clams, and found the latit❜d. of the isl'd 11° 58' S., long'd., 144° 29′ E. June 1st. This evening I landed, and spent the night at the key above mentioned. Got a few clams. Some of my people were taken ill with vomitings and dizzyness in their heads, besides a most dreadfull tenesmus afflicted those who had not been to stool since they left the ship, and others since they left Tofoa. At noon I found the latitude of this key 11° 47' So., long'd. 144° 24' Et. June 2nd. This afternoon it came on a strong gale, and my people being still ill I prefered giving them a good night's rest to going to sea. At dawn of day I found them much better. Sailed. Passed several isl'ds. The coast sandy and barren. At noon lat'd. 11° 18' So., 144° 20' Et. June 3rd.- -At night I again stopt on an island, the lat'd. of Cape York which is 10° 52′ So., long'd. 144° 03' Et., and at dawn of day I again sailed and followed the direction of the coast to the N.W. Saw many islands. At noon I was in the lat'd. 10° 31' So., long'd. 143° 43′ Et. I now found I had passed the north part of New Holland. Land woody. Steering for Timor sighted. 4th. At 5 o'clock this evening I left New Holland and steered for Timor, the exact lat'd. of which I was not certain of, but I determined to steer for it in the lat'd. of about 9° 30' So. 12. At 3 o'clock this morning, to the great joy of every person, we discovered Timor bearing W.N.W. At daylight I found I was on the S. E. part of it, and therefore determined to run down on the south side, and to lay to at night lest I might pass any settlement, for I was not certain where the Dutch Governor resided. |