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Paradise, breadfruit, and mutiny

By Chelsie Vandaveer

August 19, 2003

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When HMAV Bounty reached Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego, it was summer. Seasons mean little that far south; the 'Horn' is notorious for vicious storms and treacherous waves. The Bounty crew spent a month attempting passage into the Pacific. Cold and defeated, they headed across the South Atlantic for the Cape of Good Hope, Africa. The ship put in at False Bay and spent another month repairing and restocking.

1015 breadfruit trees on board, the Bounty left Tahiti on April 6, 1789.
Bread Fruit Taken onto H.M.S. Bounty by Captain Bligh
Giclee Print by Lester
Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

The Bounty reached Tahiti on October 26, 1788, ten months after leaving England. The crew was in paradise: warm seas, warm weather, lots of food, and especially, many beautiful women not modestly dressed. Much of the work in Tahiti was up to the ship's botanist, David Nelson, his assistant, William Brown, and Bligh overseeing the crew's activities. It is believed that, if anything, Bligh was too lenient with his men while in paradise.

With 1015 breadfruit trees on board, the Bounty left Tahiti on April 6, 1789. Prior to setting sail, some men tried to desert; Fletcher Christian made plans to build a raft and escape. It is said Bligh became irrational. Ten months to get to Tahiti, it could be months to get to the Caribbean. Many of the crew did not want to leave and face the months of deprivation for breadfruit trees. Bligh was under obligation to get the trees, alive and well, to Jamaica.

The mutiny took place in the early hours of April 28.
Captain Bligh and Some Loyal Crew Members are Cast Adrift
in an Open Boat by the Mutineers
Giclee Print by R. Dodd
Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

The mutiny took place in the early hours of April 28. It was not a majority decision. Of the original complement of 45 crew, one died on the way to Tahiti, one died in Tahiti, and thirty wished to go with Bligh in the launch. Only 19 men could fit on the 23-foot boat. John Samuel saved Bligh's journals, the Bounty's log, and a few other papers and got them aboard the launch. Bligh was given a quadrant and a compass. The cast-offs had food and water for 5 days. ("The Saga of HMS Bounty and Pitcairn Island", Butch Kerr, Mutiny on the HMS Bounty, Paul J. Lareau)

With only the quadrant and compass, William Bligh navigated the South Pacific, one of the greatest feats of seamanship ever. He only lost one man, Jonathan Norton, who gave his life so the rest could escape from hostile islanders. By June 17, Bligh navigated 3700 miles of ocean and brought the launch into the port at Timor. Bligh and crew caught a boat to Batavia (Jakarta, Indonesia) and there received passage back to England. ("Intro to Series 46", State Library, New South Wales, Australia)

The State Library of New South Wales has posted a letter from William Bligh to Joseph Banks discussing the weather of Cape Horn and the change of plans in going to the Cape of Good Hope. To view the letter, click on the link:

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/banks/series_46/46_22.htm

Each page of the letter is one of the CY 3004 links listed. The letter is in Bligh's handwriting and is an outstanding historical document. It is well worth the time it takes to read.

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History Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |

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