bread-fruit tree is to be found in the most luxuriant ftate.

Having arrived at the above-mentioned iflands, and taken on board as many trees and plants as may be thought necessary (the better to enable you to do which, you have already been furnished with fuch articles of merchandize and trinkets as it is fuppofed will be wanted to fatisfy the natives) you are to proceed from thence through Endeavour Streights (which feparate NEW HOLLAND from NEW GUINEA) to Prince's Ifland, in the Streights of Sunda, or, if it should happen to be more convenient, to pass on the eastern fide of Java to fome port on the north fide of that ifland, where any bread-fruit trees which may have been injured, or have died, may be replaced by Mangosteens, Duriens, Jacks, Nancas, Lanfas, and other fine fruit trees of that quarter, as well as the Rice Plant which grows upon dry` land; all of which fpecies (or fuch of them as fhall be judged most eligible) you are to purchase on the best terms you can from the inhabitants of that island, with the ducats with which you have also been furnished for that purpose; taking care, however, if the rice plants above mentioned cannot be procured at Java, to

touch

touch at Prince's Island for them, where they are regularly cultivated.

From Prince's Island, or the Ifland of Java, you are to proceed round the Cape of Good Hope to the WEST INDIES (calling on your way thither at any places which may be thought neceffary) and depofit one half of fuch of the above-mentioned trees and plants as may be then alive at his majesty's botanical garden at St. Vincent, for the benefit of the Windward Islands, and then go on to Jamaica: and, having delivered the remainder to Mr. EAST, or such person or persons as may be authorized by the governor and council of that ifland to receive them, refreshed your people, and received on board fuch provifions and ftores as may be neceffary for the voyage, make the best of your way back to England; repairing to Spithead, and sending to our secretary an account of your arrival and proceedings.

And whereas you will receive herewith a copy of the inftructions which have been given to the above-mentioned gardeners for their guidance, as well in procuring the faid trees and plants, and the management of them after they shall be put on board, as for bringing to England a small sample of each species, and such others as may be prepared by the superintendant of the botanical garden

4

garden at St. Vincent's, and by the faid Mr. EAST, or others, for his majesty's garden at Kew; you are hereby required and directed to afford, and to give directions to your officers and company to afford, the faid gardeners every poffible aid and affiftance, not only in the collecting of the said trees and plants at the places before mentioned, but for their prefervation during their conveyance to the places of their destination.

Given under our hands the 20th November, 1787.

HOWE,

C. BRETT,

R. HOPKINS,

J. LEVESON GOWER.

By command of their Lordships,

P. STEPHENS.

After a voyage of ten months the ship Bounty arrived fafe at OTAHEITE. As they drew nigh, a great number of canoes came off to them. Their first inquiry was, whether they were friends, and whether they came from Britain. They were no fooner fatisfied in this, than they crowded on board in vast numbers, notwithstanding the endeavours which were made to prevent it;

and

and in lefs than ten minutes, the deck was fo full that the captain could fcarce find his own people.

The next morning I went on fhore, says Captain BLIGH, with the chief POENO, accompanied by a multitude of the natives. He conducted me to the place where we had fixed our tents in 1777, and defired that I would appropriate the spot to the faine ufe. We then went across the beach, and through a walk delightfully fhaded with bread-fruit trees, to his house. Here we found two women at work staining a piece of cloth red. These were his wife and her sister. They defired me to fit down on a mat, which was fpread for the purpose, and with great kindness offered me refreshments. I received the congratulations of feveral ftrangers, who came up to us and behaved with great decorum and attention. The people, however, thronged about the house in fuch numbers that I was much incommoded by the heat, which being obferved, they respectfully drew back. They made many enquiries after Sir JOSEPH BANKS, and many of their former friends. They faid a fhip had been there, from which they had learnt that Captain Cook was dead, but the circumstances of his death they did not appear to be acquainted with. The captain they called TONAH. I understood likewife from them that

VOL. II.

3&

Lieut.

Lieut. WATTS was in the ship; who, having been here in the Refolution with Captain Cook, was well known to them. In turn I very eagerly enquired after my friend OMAI; and it was a fenfible mortification and disappointment to me to hear that not only OMAI, but both the New Zealand boys who had been left with him, were dead. Every one agreed in their information that they died a natural death. I next enquired about the cattle that had been left here by Captain Cook, but the accounts I received were very unfavourable, and so various, that for the present I fhall forbear fpeaking of them. I had, however, the fatisfaction to find that the island had received fome benefit from our former vifit. Two fhaddocks were brought to me, a fruit which they had not till we introduced it. And among other things were capficoms, pumkins, and two young goats.

This forenoon, a man came on board with Captain Cook's picture, which had been drawn by Mr. WEBBER, in 1777, and left with Oтoo. It was brought to me, fays Captain BLIGH, to be repaired. The frame was broken, but the picture no way damaged, except a little in the back ground. They called it TOOTE (which has always been their manner of pronouncing Captain

Cook's