diately, if I would not be quiet: the villains round me had their pieces cocked and bayonets fixed. Particular people were called on to go into the boat, and were hurried over the fide; whence I concluded that with thefe people I was to be fet adrift: I therefore made another effort to bring about a change, but with no other effect than to be threatened with having my brains blown out. The boatfwain and feamen who were to go in the boat, were allowed to collect twine, canvas, lines, fails, cordage, an eight-and-twenty gallon cask of water, and Mr. SAMUEL, foreseeing what was to happen, got an hundred and fifty pounds of bread, with a small quantity of rum and wine, alfo a quadrant and compass: but he was forbidden, on pain of death, to touch either map, ephemeris, book of aftronomical obfervations, fextant, time-keeper, or any of my furveys or drawings. The mutineers having forced thofe of the feamen, whom they meant to get rid of, into the boat, CHRISTIAN directed a dram to be ferved to each of his own crew. I then unhappily faw that nothing could be done to effect the recovery of the fhip: there was no one to affift me, and every endeavour on my part was anfwered with threats of death. The The officers were next called upon deck, and forced over the fide into the boat, while I was kept apart from every one, abaft the mizen-maft; CHRISTIAN, armed with a bayonet, holding me by the bandage that secured my hands. The guard round me had their pieces cocked, but on my daring the wretches to fire, they uncocked them. Ifaac MARTIN, one of the guard over me, I saw, had an inclination to affist me, and as he fed me with fhaddock (my lips being quite parched) we explained our wishes to each other by our looks; but this being obferved, Martin was removed from me. He then attempted to leave the fhip, for which purpose he got into the boat; but with many threats they obliged him to return. The armourer, Jofeph COLEMAN, and two carpenters, MACINTOSH and NORMAN, were alfo kept contrary to their inclinations; and they begged of me, after I was aftern in the boat, to remember that they declared they had no hand in the transaction. Michael Byrne likewife wanted to leave the fhip. It is of no moment for me to recount my endeavours to bring back the offenders to a sense of their duty: all I 3S 2 could could do was by speaking to them; but it was to no purpofe, for I was kept fecurely bound, and no one, except the guard, fuffered to come near me. To Mr. SAMUEL I am indebted for fecuring my journals and commiffion, with fome material ship papers. Without these I had nothing to certify what I had done, and my honour and character might have been fufpected, without my poffeffing a proper document to have defended them. All this he did with great refolution though ftrictly guarded. He attempted to fave the time-keeper, and a box with my furveys, drawings, and remarks for fifteen years past, which were numerous; when he was hurried away, with, "Damn your eyes, you are well off to get what you have." It appeared to me, that CHRISTIAN was fome time in doubt whether he fhould keep the carpenter or his mates; at length he determined on the latter, and the carpenter was ordered into the boat. He was permitted, but not without great oppofition, to take his tool cheft. Much altercation took place among the mutinous crew during the whole bufinefs: fome fwore, "I'll be "damned if he does not find his way home, if he gets any thing with him," meaning me; and, when the "Damn my eyes, carpenter's cheft was carrying away, "he will have a veffel now." While others laughed at the helpless fituation of the boat, being very deep, and fo little room for those who were in her. As for CHRISTIAN, he appeared like a madman. The officers and men being in the boat, they only waited for me, of which the mafter at arms informed CHRISTIAN; who then faid, " Come, Captain BLIGH, 66 your officers and men are now in the boat, and you "must go with them; if you attempt to make the least "resistance you fhall instantly be put to death;" and without further ceremony, with a tribe of armed ruffians about me, I was forced over the fide, where they untied my hands. Being in the boat, we were veered aftern by a rope. A few pieces of pork were thrown to us, and fome clothes, also four cutlaffes; and it was then that the armourer and carpenters called out to me to remember that they had no hand in the transaction. After having undergone a great deal of ridicule, and been kept some time to make sport for these unfeeling wretches, we were at length caft adrift upon the wide ocean. |