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them; but I earnestly recommended to them, as they valued the king of England's friendship, that they would exert their utmost endeavours to find out the offenders, which they faithfully promised. Our reconciliation accordingly took place, and messengers were sent to Orow and TEPPAHOO to invite them to return.

It has fince occurred to me, that this attempt to cut the fhip adrift, was most probably the act of fome of our own people; whose purpose of remaining at Otaheite might have been effectually answered if the ship had been driven on shore. At the time, I entertained not the least thought of this kind, nor did the poffibility of it enter into my ideas, having no suspicion that so general an inclination, or fo ftrong an attachment to these islands, could prevail among my people, as to induce them to abandon every profpect of returning to their native country.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31. To day, all the plants were on board, being in 74 pots, 39 tubs, and 24 boxes. The number of bread-fruit plants were 1015; befides which we had collected a number of other plants. The avee, which is one of the finest flavoured fruits in the world. The ayyah, which is a fruit not fo rich, but of

a fine flavour and very refreshing. The rattah, not much unlike a chefnut, which grows on a large tree, in great quantities: they are fingly in large pods, from one to two inches broad; and may be eaten raw, or boiled in the fame manner as Windfor beans, and fo dreffed, are equally good. The orai-ah, which is a very fuperior kind of plantain, All these I was particularly recommended to collect by Sir JOSEPH BANKS. I had also taken on board fome plants of the ettow and matte, with which the natives here make a beautiful red colour; and a root called peeah, of which they make an excellent pudding.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3. TINAH and his wife, with his parents, brothers, and fifter, dined with me to-day, and, as I meant to fail early next morning, they all remained on board for the night. The fhip was crowded the whole day with the natives, and we were loaded with cocoa-nuts, plantains, bread-fruit, hogs, and goats. In the evening there was no dancing or mirth on the beach, fuch as we had been accustomed to, but all was mournful filence.

All the while we remained at Otaheite, the picture of Captain Cook, at the defire of TINAH, was kept on

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board

board the ship. On delivering it to him, I wrote on the back, the time of the fhip's arrival and departure, with an account of the number of plants on board.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4. At day-light we unmoored. At half past fix, there being no wind, we weighed, and towed the fhip out of harbour. Soon after the fea breeze came, and we ftood off towards the fea. At funfet we bad farewell to Otaheite, where for twenty-three weeks we had been treated with the utmost affection and regard, and which feemed to increase in proportion to our stay. That we were not infenfible to their kindness, the events which followed more than fufficiently provės: for to the friendly and endearing behaviour of these people, may be afcribed the motives for that event which effected the ruin of an expedition that, there was every reafon to hope, would have been completed in the most fortunate manner.

We stood to the northward all night, with light winds, and on the 27th of April 1789, at noon, were between the islands Tafoa and Kotoo.

Thus far the voyage had advanced in a course of uninterrupted profperity, and had been attended with many circumstances equally pleafing and fatisfactory.. A very different scene was, however, foon to take place. A

confpiracy

conspiracy was formed, which was to render all our paft labour productive only of mifery and distress. The means was concerted and prepared with so much secrecy and circumspection, that no one circumstance occafioned the smallest suspicion of the impending calamity.

TUESDAY, APRIL 28. Juft before fun-rifing, while I was yet afleep, Mr. CHRISTIAN, with the mafter at arms, gunner's mate, and Thomas BURKITT, feaman, came into my cabin, and feizing me, tied my hands with a cord behind my back, threatening me with instant death if I spoke or made the least noise: I, however, called as loud as I could, in hopes of affistance; but they had already fecured the officers who were not of their party, by placing centinels at their doors. There were three men at my cabin door, befides the four within. CHRISTIAN had only a cutlass in his hand, the others had muskets and bayonets.

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I was hauled out of bed, and forced on deck in my fhirt, fuffering great pain from the tightness with which they had tied my hands,

I demanded the reafon of fuch violence, but received no other answer than abufe, for not holding my tongue.

The master, the gunner, the furgeon, Mr. ELPHIN

STONE,

STONE, mafter's mate, and NELSON, were kept confined below; and the fore hatchway was guarded by centinels.

The boatswain and carpenter, and alfo the clerk, Mr. SAMUEL, were allowed to come upon deck, where they saw me standing abaft the mizen-maft, with my hands. tied behind my back, under a guard, with CHRISTIAN at their head.

The boatswain was ordered to hoist the launch out, with a threat, if he did not do it inftantly, to take care of himself.

When the boat was out, Mr. HAYWARD and Mr. HALLET, two of the midshipmen, and Mr. SAMUEL, were ordered into it.

I demanded what their intention was in giving this order, and endeavoured to perfuade the people near me not to perfift in fuch acts of violence; but it was to no effect: Hold your tongue, fir, or you are dead this inftant, was conftantly repeated to me.

I continued my endeavours to turn the tide of affairs, when CHRISTIAN changed the cutlafs which he had in his hand for a bayonet that was brought to him, and, holding me with a strong gripe by the cord that tied my hands, he with many oaths threatened to kill me imme

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diately,

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