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hazy weather, so that we did not constantly keep sight of the coast.

Tuesday, 25th.-At noon we were off Toorns island, which bore N.W. by N., three or four leagues distant. There is a curious high peak on the S.W.part: the land near the shore is low and woody.

On the 27th, at noon, we were near the entrance of the Straits of Mangaryn, which not appearing so open and clear as represented in the map, I steered for the Straits of Sapi, intending to pass through; but was obliged to give up this plan, by strong currents setting to the S.E., which there was not sufficient wind to enable us to stem. I therefore again stood for the Straits of Mangaryn, which we ran through in the afternoon of the 29th, being favoured with a fresh breeze from the S.S.E. On the Flores side, there are many good harbours and bays, where vessels may anchor; but the country hereabouts appears burnt up and desolate.

When we had passed the straits, we kept to the westward, running along the north side of the island Sumbawa, where there is a very high mountain near the coast; at the foot of which, I am informed, are many runs of good water, conveniently situated for ships to supply themselves.

In the night of the 31st, several prows were rowing about us, on which account we kept all night under arms.

Thursday, Sept. 3d. This and the two following days we were sailing along the north side of the island Lombock, on which is a high mountain. Most of the islands in this route are distinguished by high mountains. Lombock appears to be well clothed with wood. In the nights we saw fires placed on the high lands, at a distance from the coast.

Sunday, 6th. In the afternoon we saw the high land of Cape Sandana, which is the N.E. part of Java. The next day we were off Cape Sandana, which is a low cape projecting from the high land already mentioned.

We steered to the westward, along the coast of Java; and on the 10th, at noon, we anchored off Passourwang, a Dutch settlement on the coast of Java, in two fathoms; distant from the shore half a league; the entrance of the river bearing S.W. The coast hereabouts is so shoal, that large ships are obliged to anchor three or four miles from the land. As soon as we were at anchor, I got in my boat and went on shore. The banks of the river, near the entrance, were mud, on which grew a few mangrove bushes. Among them we saw hogs running, and many were lying dead in the mud, which caused a most intolerable stench, and made me heartily repent having come here, but after proceeding about a mile up the river, the course of which was serpentine, we found a very pleasant country, and landed at a small and well-constructed fort; where I was received in a friendly and polite manner by M. Adrian Van Rye, the commandant. By the return of the boat, I sent on board a small bullock, and other provisions. I likewise took a pilot to conduct us to Sourabya.

The houses at Passourwang are neatly built, and the country appears to be well cultivated. The produce of this settlement is rice, of which they export large quantities. There are but few Dutch here: the Javanese are numerous, and their chief lives with considerable splendour. They have good roads, and posts are established along

the coast; and it appears to be a busy and wellregulated settlement.

The next day, about noon, we sailed; and on the 12th, in the evening, anchored in Sourabya road, in seven fathoms: distance from the shore one mile. We found riding here, seven squarerigged and several smaller vessels.

It was too late when we anchored to send a boat on shore. The next morning, before daylight, three guard-boats stationed themselves near us, and I was informed that I must not land or send a boat on shore. This restriction, I learnt from the officer of the guard boats, was in conformity to general orders concerning all strange vessels on their first arrival. At nine in the forenoon, leave came off for us to land, and soon after the guard-boats quitted us.

I was received on shore with great civility and friendship by the governor, or Opperhooft, M. Ant. Barkay, and the commandant of the troops, M. de Bose. By these gentlemen I was hospitably entertained, and advised to remain till the 16th, when some vessels were to sail, with whom I might keep company, which they recommended on account of pirates.

Sourabya is one of the most pleasant places I ever saw. It is situated on the banks of a river, and is a mile and a half distant from the sea shore, so that only the flag-staff can be seen from the road. The river is navigable up to the town for vessels of 100 tons burthen, and the bank on one side is made convenient for tracking. The Chinese carry on a considerable trade here, and have a town or camp on the side of the river opposite to Sourabya. The country near the town is flat, and the soil light, so that they plough with a single bullock or buffalo (karrabow). The interior parts of the country, near the mountains, are infested with a breed of fierce tigers, which makes travelling inland very dangerous. They have here a breed of horses, which are small, but they are handsome and strong.

The Javanese in this neighbourhood are numerous. M. Barkay and M. de Bose took me with them to pay a visit to two of the principal natives, whom we found attended by a number of men armed with pikes, in great military order. We were entertained with a concert of music; the instruments were gongs, drums, and a fiddle with two strings. I hired a pilot here to carry us to Batavia.

On the 17th, we sailed from Sourabya, in company with three prows. At noon, we anchored at Crissey, which is a town with a small fort belonging to the Dutch. We remained here about two hours and then weighed.

The navigation through the Straits of Madura is so intricate, that, with the little opportunity I had, I am unable to undertake a description of it. The next day (September 18th) having passed the straits, we bore away to the westward, along the coast of Java, in company with the prows before mentioned. We had regular soundings all the way to Samarang, off which place we anchored on the 22d in the afternoon. The shoalness of the coast here, makes the road of Samarang very | inconvenient, both on account of the great distance that large ships (of which there were several in the road) are obliged to lie from the shore, and of the landing, which is in a river that cannot be entered before half-flood. This river resembles the one at Passourwang, the shores being low, with offen

sive dead animals lying about. I was met at the landing-place by the equipage-master, and he furnished me with a carriage to carry me to the governor, whose residence is about two miles from the town of Samarang. I requested, and obtained leave, to have our wants supplied, which were, to recruit our provisions, and to get a new main-mast, having sprung ours in the passage from Sourabya. Samarang is a fortified town, surrounded by a wall and ditch; and is the most considerable settlement, next to Batavia, that the Dutch have in Java. Here is a very good hospital, and a public school, chiefly for teaching the mathematics. They have likewise a theatre. Provisions are remarkably cheap here, beef being at ten doits per pound, and the price of a fowl twelve doits.

I experienced great civility from some of the gentlemen at Samarang, particularly from M. le Baron de Bose, a merchant, brother to the M. de Bose, commandant of the troops at Sourabya: and from M. Abegg, the surgeon of the hospital, to whom we were indebted for advice and medicines, for which he would not consent to receive payment.

On the 26th, we sailed from Samarang; and with us, a galley mounting six swivels, which the governor had directed to accompany us to Batavia.

On the first of October we anchored in Batavia road, where we found riding, a Dutch ship of war, and twenty sail of Dutch East India ships, besides many smaller vessels.

CHAPTER XX.

OCCURRENCES AT BATAVIA, AND PASSAGE THENCE TO

ENGLAND.

IN the afternoon, at four o'clock, I went on shore, and landed at a house by the river, where strangers first stop and give an account who they are, whence they come, &c. From this place, a Malay gentleman took me in a carriage to the Sabandar, Mr. Englehard, whose house was in the environs of the city, on the side nearest the shipping. The Sabandar is the officer with whom all strangers are obliged to transact their business: at least, the whole must go through his hands. With him, I went to pay my respects to the governor-general, who received me with great civility. I acquainted his excellency with my situation, and requested my people might be taken care of, and that we should be allowed to take a passage to Europe in the first ship that sailed. I likewise desired permission to sell the schooner and launch. All this his excellency told me should be granted. I then took leave, and returned with the Sabandar, who wrote down the particulars of my wants, in order to form from them a regular petition, to be presented to the council the next day. I had brought from the governor of Coupang, directed for the governor-general at Batavia, the account of my voyage and misfortune, translated into Dutch, from an account that I had given to Mr. Van Este. So attentive had they been at Timor to every thing that related to us.

There is a large hotel at Batavia, fitted up purposely for the accommodation of strangers, who are not allowed to reside at any other place. It is situated near the great river, in a part of the city that is reckoned the most airy and healthy. Nevertheless, I found the air hot and suffocating, and

was taken ill in the night with a violent pain in my head. The next morning, at nine, the council sat, and I attended, accompanied by the Sabandar; and was informed that the council had complied with all I had requested.

When I returned to the hotel, my head-ach increased, and a violent fever came on. I sent to acquaint the Sabandar of my situation, and was soon after attended by the head surgeon of the town hospital, Mr. Aansorp; by whose care and skill, in less than 24 hours, the fever considerably abated, but a severe head-ach continued. I had an invitation from the governor-general to dine with him; which, of course, I was obliged to decline.

I hired a carriage, which cost three dollars per day, for the benefit of taking an airing. My lodgings at the hotel were so close and hot, that I desired the Sabandar to apply to the governorgeneral, for leave to hire a house in the country; which request his excellency not only immediately complied with, but gave directions for my being accommodated at the house of the physician or surgeon-general, Mr. Sparling.

One of my people, Thomas Hall, being ill with a flux, I obtained leave for him to be sent to the country hospital, which is a convenient airy building.

Tuesday, 6th.-This morning, at sunrise, I left the hotel, and was carried to Mr. Sparling's house, about four miles distant from the city, and near the convalescent hospital, which at this time had also sick men in it, the whole number of patients amounting to 800. I found every thing prepared for my comfort and convenience. Mr. Sparling would suffer me to take no medicine, though I had still considerable fever with head-ach: but I found so much relief from the difference of the air, that in the evening I was able to accompany Mr. Sparling on a visit to the governor-general, at one of his country seats; where we found many ladies, all dressed in the Malay fashion, some of them richly ornamented with jewels. I had invitations from several gentlemen, and some very kindly pressed me to make their country houses my abode, till my health should be re-established.

My indisposition increasing, Mr. Sparling advised me to quit Batavia as speedily as possible, and represented the necessity of it to the governorgeneral. I was informed from his excellency, that the homeward bound ships were so much crowded, that there would be no possibility of all my people going in one ship, and that they could be accommodated no other way than by dividing them into different ships. Seeing, therefore, that a separation was unavoidable, I determined to follow the advice of the physician, and, as a packet was appointed to sail for Europe on the 16th instant, I sent to request of the governor that I might be allowed to take a passage in her for myself, and as many of my people as they were able to receive. In answer to this, I was acquainted that myself and two more could be accommodated in the packet, she being too small to admit a greater number; but that I might rest assured of passages being provided for those that remained, by the earliest opportunities.

Friday, 9th. This day, anchored in the road, the General Elliot, an English ship, commanded by Captain Lloyd. In the Straits of Banca, he had met with some boats belonging to the East India Company's ship Vansittart, that was lost in the Straits of Billaton, by having struck on a rock

that went through her bottom. Captain Wilson, who commanded the Vansittart, I was informed, had just finished a survey of those straits, and was hoisting his boat in, when the ship struck. Immediately on receiving the intelligence, Captain Lloyd, in the General Elliot, and another ship in company, called the Nonsuch, sailed for the wreck. They found the ship had been burnt down to the water's edge by the Malays. They, however, saved 40 chests of treasure, out of 55, which were said to have been on board. Most of the ship's company were saved: one man only was lost in the ship, and five others in a small boat were missing, who were supposed to have taken some of the treasure. -The greater part of the people went with Captain Wilson to China, and some were with Captain Lloyd.

Saturday, 10th.-This morning, the Resource was sold by public auction: the custom at Batavia, is to begin high, and to lower the price, till some person bids; and the first bidder is the buyer. She was accordingly put up at 2000 rix-dollars, but, to my great disappointment, no one offered to purchase before the auctioneer had lowered the demand to 295 rix-dollars, for which price she was sold; the purchaser being an Englishman, Captain John Eddie, who commanded an English ship from Bengal. If no strangers had been present at the sale, I imagine they would have let her run down to 200 dollars, in which case I should have had no alternative.

The launch likewise was sold. The services she had rendered us, made me feel great reluctance at parting with her; which I would not have done, if I could have found a convenient opportunity of getting her conveyed to Europe.

Little as the schooner had sold for, I found I was in danger of having the sum lessened; for the Sabandar informed me, that, by an order of the council, there was a duty on the sale of all vessels. With this demand I would by no means comply; for I thought I had sufficiently suffered, in sustaining a loss of 705 rix-dollars out of 1000, by the purchase and sale of the vessel, she having cost 1000 rix-dollars.

This day, Thomas Hall, whom I had sent to be taken care of at the hospital, died. He had been ill of a flux from the time of our arrival at Timor.

Monday, 12th.-I agreed with the captain of the packet for a passage to Europe, for myself, my clerk, and a servant. The Sabandar informed me, it was necessary that my officers and people should be examined before a notary, respecting the loss of the Bounty, as otherwise the governor and council were not legally authorized to detain her, if she should be found in any of the Dutch settlements. They were therefore, at my desire, examined; and afterwards made affidavit before the governor and council at the Stadt-house.

My officers complaining to me of the unreasonableness of some tradesmen's bills, I spoke to the Sabandar. A bill of 51 dollars for five hats, he reduced to 30 dollars, and in other articles made proportionable deductions.

Paper money is the currency of Batavia, and is so understood in all bargains. At this time, paper was at 28 per cent. discount: there is likewise a difference in the value of the ducatoon, which at Batavia is 80 stivers, and in Holland only 63 stivers: this occasions a loss of 214 per cent. on

remittance of money. It therefore follows, that if any person at Batavia remits money by bills of exchange to Europe, they lose by the discount and the exchange 49 per cent.

Those who have accounts to pay, and can give unexceptionable bills on Europe, will find a considerable saving by negociating their bills with private people; who are glad to give for them a premium of 20 per cent. at the least. This discovery, I made somewhat too late to profit by.

One of the greatest difficulties that strangers have to encounter, is, their being obliged to live at the hotel. This hotel was formerly two houses, which by doors of communication have been made one. It is in the middle of a range of buildings, more calculated for a cold country than for such a climate as Batavia. There is no free circulation of air, and what is equally bad, it is always very dirty; and there is great want of attendance. What they call cleaning the house, is another nuisance; for they never use any water to cool it or to lay the dust, but sweep daily with brooms, in such a manner, that those in the house are almost suffocated by a cloud of dust.

The months of December and January are reckoned the most unhealthy of the year, the heavy rains being then set in.- The account of the seasons, as given to me here, I believe may be relied on.

The middle of November, the west monsoon begins, and rain.

December and January.-Continual rain with strong westerly wind.

February.-Westerly wind. Towards the end of this month the rain begins to abate. March.-Intervals of fine weather.

westerly.

Wind

April.-In this month the east monsoon begins. Weather generally fine, with showers of rain. May. East monsoon fixed. Showery. June and July. Clear weather. Strong east wind. August and September. Wind more moderate. October. In this month, the wind begins to be variable, with showers of rain.

The current is said always to run with the wind. Nevertheless I found the reverse in sailing from Timor to Java. Between the end of October and the beginning of the ensuing year, no Dutch ship bound for Europe is allowed to sail from Batavia, for fear of being near the Mauritius, at the time of the hurricanes, which are frequent there in December and January.

My illness prevented me from gaining much knowledge of Batavia. Of their public buildings, I saw nothing that gave me so much satisfaction as their country hospital for seamen. It is a large commodious and airy building, about four miles from the town, close to the side of the river, or rather in the river: for the ground on which it stands has, by labour, been made an island of, and the sick are carried there in a boat: each ward is a separate dwelling, and the different diseases are properly classed. They have sometimes 1400 patients in it: at this time there were 800, but more than half of these were recovered and fit for service, of whom 300 were destined for the fleet that was to sail for Europe. I went through most of the wards, and there appeared great care and attention. The sheets, bedding, and linen, of the sick were perfectly neat and clean. The

house of the physician, Mr. Sparling, who has the management of the hospital, is at one extremity of the building and here it was that I resided. To the attention and care of this gentleman, for which he would receive no payment, I am probably indebted for my life.

The hospital in the town is well attended, but the situation is so ill chosen, that it certainly would be the saving of many lives to build one in its stead up the river; which might be done with great advantage, as water carriage is so easy and convenient. A great neglect in some of the commanders of the shipping here, was suffering their people to go dirty, and frequently without frock, shirt, or any thing to cover their bodies; which, besides being a public nuisance, must probably be productive of ill health in the most robust consti

tution.

The governor-general gave me leave to lodge all my people at the country hospital, which I thought a great advantage, and with which they were perfectly satisfied. The officers, however, at their own request, remained in the town.

The time fixed for the sailing of the packet approaching, I settled my accounts with the Sabandar, leaving open the victualling account, to be closed by Mr. Fryer, the master, previous to his departure; whom I likewise authorised to supply the men and officers left under his command, with one month's pay, to enable them to purchase clothing for their passage to England.

I had been at great pains to bring living plants from Timor, in six tubs; which contained jacks, nancas, karambolas, namnams, jambos, and three thriving bread-fruit plants. These I thought might be serviceable at the Cape of Good Hope, if brought no farther: but I had the mortification of being obliged to leave them all at Batavia. I took these plants on board at Coupang, on the 20th of August: they had experienced a passage of forty-two days to my arrival here. The breadfruit plants died to the root, and sprouted afresh from thence. The karambolas, jacks, nancas, and namnams, I had raised from the seed, and they were in fine order. No judgment can hence be formed of the success of transporting plants, as in the present trial they had many disadvantages.

This morning, Friday 16th, before sun-rise, I embarked on board the Vlydte packet, commanded by Captain Peter Couvret, bound for Middleburgh. With me likewise embarked Mr. John Samuel, clerk, and John Smith, seaman. Those of our company who staid behind, the governor promised me should follow in the first ships, and be as little divided as possible.--At seven o'clock the packet weighed, and sailed out of the road.

On the 18th we spoke the Rambler, an American brig, belonging to Boston, bound to Batavia. After passing the Straits of Sunda, we steered to the north of the Cocos Isles. These islands, Captain Couvret informed me, are full of cocoa-nut trees there is no anchorage near them, but good landing for boats.

In the passage to the Cape of Good Hope there occurred nothing worth remark. I cannot, however, forbear noticing the Dutch manner of navigating. They steer by true compass, or rather endeavour so to do, by means of a small moveable central card, which they set to the meridian: and whenever they discover the variation has altered

25 degrees since the last adjustment, they again correct the central card. This is steering within a quarter of a point, without aiming at greater exactness. The officer of the watch likewise corrects the course for lee-way, by his own judgment, before it is marked down in the log board. They heave no log: I was told that the Company do not allow it. Their manner of computing their run, is by means of a measured distance of forty feet along the ship's side: they take notice of any remarkable patch of froth, when it is abreast the foremost end of the measured distance, and count half seconds till the mark of froth is abreast the after end. With the number of half seconds thus obtained, they divide the number forty-eight, taking the product for the rate of sailing in geographical miles in one hour, or the number of Dutch miles in four hours.

It is not usual to make any allowance to the sun's declination, on account of being on a different meridian from that for which the tables are calculated: they in general compute with the numbers just as they are found in the table. From all this it is not difficult to conceive the reason why the Dutch are frequently above ten degrees out in their reckoning. Their passages likewise are considerably lengthened by not carrying a sufficient quantity of sail.

December 16th, in the afternoon we anchored in Table Bay. The next morning I went on shore, and waited on his Excellency M. Vander Graaf, who received me in the most polite and friendly manner. The Guardian, commanded by Lieut. Riou, had left the Cape about eight days before, with cattle and stores for Port Jackson. This day anchored in Table Bay, the Astrée, a French frigate, commanded by the Count de St. Rivel, from the Isle of France, on board of which ship was the late governor, the Chevalier d'Entrecastreaux. Other ships that arrived during my stay at the Cape, were, a French forty gun frigate, an East India ship, and a brig of the same nation : likewise two other French ships, with slaves from the coast of Mosambique, bound to the West Indies a Dutch packet from Europe, after a four months' passage and the Harpy, a South Sea whaler, with 500 barrels of spermaceti, and 400 of seal and other oils. There is a standing order from the Dutch East India Company, that no person who takes a passage from Batavia for Europe, in any of their ships, shall be allowed to leave the ship before she arrives at her intended port; according to which regulation, I must have gone to Holland in the packet. Of this I was not informed till I was taking leave of the governorgeneral, at Batavia, when it was too late for him to give the captain an order to permit me to land in the channel. He however desired I would make use of his name to Governor Vander Graaf, who readily complied with my request, and gave the necessary orders to the captain of the packet, a copy of which his Excellency gave to me; and at the same time, recommendatory letters to people of consequence in Holland, in case I should be obliged to proceed so far.

I left a letter at the Cape of Good Hope, to be forwarded to Governor Phillips, at Port Jackson, by the first opportunity; containing a short account of my voyage, with a descriptive list of the pirates: and from Batavia I had written to Lord

F

Cornwallis; so that every part of India will be prepared to receive them.

We sailed from the Cape, on Saturday, 2nd January, 1790, in company with the Astrée French frigate. The next morning neither ship nor land was in sight. On the 15th, we passed in sight of the island St. Helena. The 21st, we saw the Island Ascension. On the 10th of February, the wind being at N. E., blowing fresh, our sails were covered with a fine orange-coloured dust. Fuego, the westernmost of the Cape de Verd islands, and the nearest land to us, on that day at noon bore N.E. by E. E., distance 140 leagues. On the 13th of March, we saw the Bill of Portland, and on the evening of the next day, Sunday March the 14th, I left the packet, and was landed at Portsmouth, by an Isle of Wight boat.

Those of my officers and people whom I left at

Batavia, were provided with passages in the earliest ships; and at the time we parted, were apparently in good health. Nevertheless they did not all live to quit Batavia. Mr. Elphinstone, master's mate, and Peter Linkletter, seaman, died within a fortnight after my departure; the hardships they had experienced having rendered them unequal to cope with so unhealthy a climate as that of Batavia. The remainder embarked on board the Dutch fleet for Europe, and arrived safe at this country, except Robert Lamb, who died on the passage, and Mr. Ledward, the surgeon, who has not yet been heard of. Thus of nineteen who were forced by the mutineers into the launch, has pleased God that twelve should surmount the difficulties and dangers of the voyage, and live to revisit their native country.

CAPTAIN BLIGH's account of his voyage has been given precisely as he published it, in 1792, without any alteration, saving the suppression of those parts where he records his observations of the latitude, longitude, bearings and soundings of particular places, of no interest to any but the mariner, and even to him now rendered almost, if not quite useless, by subsequent and more accurate surveys.

The superiority of the pleasure derived from reading a journal of facts, recorded day by day while the immediate impression remains, over a formal narrative, is so great, as to render it very desirable that the original should be presented to the public, rather than a vamped and tinselled substitute. In many cases however, the original is not adapted for that purpose; but the present is far otherwise, and we trace the daily progress of the skilful mariner, on whose life the existence of his fellow sufferers depended, with earnest hope and eager expectation. His narrative is like a moving picture; full of horrors, it is true, but of horrors that fix our gaze upon them.

Captain Bligh's character stood deservedly high in his profession, in which he afterwards rose to the rank of a flag officer, but his temper was infirm, and when under its influence he suffered himself to use language both to his crew and officers, which it is now surprising to believe was not quite uncommon at that period, even from gentlemen holding the rank he did, at the time of the mutiny.

Disputes began early between him and his officers and crew, and appear to have originated from the circumstance of the commander combining in his

The authorites chiefly relied on are the papers of Capt. Heywood, first made public in 1835; the narrative of the voyage of the Pandora, by Mr. Hamilton; the voyage of the Briton, by Mr. Shillibeer; and the narrative of Capt. Beechey's voyage in the Blossom.

own person, as was usual in small vessels, the offices of captain and purser. Many irritating altercations occurred, which were met by Captain Bligh with much heat of temper, but when passed, though forgotten by him, were remembered by others. His conduct in the voyage out, when his judicious regulations preserved the health of his ship's company in a very trying season, and the remarkable steadiness of his management of his men, when exposed in the boat, and tried to the utmost by their behaviour, even then unruly, prove him to have been not only fully equal, but worthy to command. Six months' relaxation from the strict reins of discipline on the fascinating shores of Otaheite, were not calculated to make the renewed curb sit easy. Disputes again began, and the captain's temper again got the better of him. Christian, who had received kindness from the captain with one hand and insults with the other, took a sudden resolution which he afterwards repented bitterly; he found ready helpmates, but none rallied round the captain. All save the captain's clerk on the one side, and those whom Christian had, in the first instance, called on, on the other, were for a time paralysed, and slowly took their determination biassed by fear or hatred in all their actions, but none by love, if we except the compassionate sailor who fed the captain with shaddock.

Captain Bligh considered the mutiny as the result of a conspiracy, but no evidence to support that opinion was ever produced; on the contrary, in a journal kept by Morrison the boatswain's mate, an account of its origin is given, professedly from Christian's own relation, and this is the only distinct narrative of it that has ever been made public. It appears that Christian, feeling himself much aggrieved at the captain's treatment, had formed the resolution of quitting the ship on the evening