Chapter I: Front Matter

A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEA

BY WILLIAM BLIGH.

A

VOYAGE

TO THE SOUTH SEA,

UNDERTAKEN BY COMMAND OF

HIS MAJESTY,

FOR THE PURPOSE OF

CONVEYING THE BREAD-FRUIT TREE

TO THE WEST INDIES,

IN HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP THE BOUNTY,

COMMANDED BY

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BLIGH.

INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE

MUTINY ON BOARD THE SAID SHIP,

AND THE

SUBSEQUENT VOYAGE OF PART OF THE CREW, IN THE SHIP'S BOAT,

FROM TOFOA, ONE OF THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS,

TO TIMOR, A DUTCH SETTLEMENT IN THE EAST INDIES.

THE WHOLE ILLUSTRATED WITH CHARTS, ETC.

...

PUBLISHED BY PERMISSION OF THE

LORDS COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY.

...

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR GEORGE NICOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL.

1792.

...

ADVERTISEMENT.

At the time I published the Narrative of the Mutiny on Board the Bounty it was my intention that the preceding part of the Voyage should be contained in a separate account. This method I have since been induced to alter. The reason of the Narrative appearing first was for the purpose of communicating early information concerning an event which had attracted the public notice: and, being drawn up in a hasty manner, it required many corrections. Some circumstances likewise were omitted; and the notation of time used in the Narrative being according to sea reckoning, in which the days begin and end at noon, must have produced a degree of obscurity and confusion to readers accustomed only to the civil mode. And this would have increased as the remainder of the voyage, on account of the numerous shore occurrences at Otaheite and elsewhere, could not, with clearness and propriety, have been related in any other than the usual manner of reckoning.

Besides remedying these inconveniencies I have thought a fuller account of our passage from Timor to Europe than that contained in the Narrative would not be unacceptable. These reasons, with the manifest convenience of comprising the whole Voyage in one continued narrative, in preference to letting it appear in disjointed accounts will, it is hoped, be allowed a sufficient excuse for having varied from the original intention. Nevertheless for the accommodation of the purchasers of the Narrative already published those who desire it will be supplied with the other parts of the Voyage separate; i.e. the part previous to the mutiny and the additional account after leaving Timor.

...

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 1.

Plan of the Expedition. Outfit and Occurrences to the time of leaving England. Description of the Breadfruit.

CHAPTER 2.

Departure from England. Arrival at Tenerife. Sail from thence. Arrival off Cape Horn. Severity of the Weather. Obliged to bear away for the Cape of Good Hope.

CHAPTER 3.

Passage towards the Cape of Good Hope and Search after Tristan da Cunha. Arrival at False Bay. Occurrences there. Reports concerning the Grosvenor's People. Departure from the Cape.

CHAPTER 4.

Passage towards Van Diemen's Land. Make the Island of St. Paul. Arrival in Adventure Bay. Natives seen. Sail from Van Diemen's Land.

CHAPTER 5.

Rocky Islands discovered. See the Island Maitea and arrive at Otaheite. Ship crowded by the Natives.

CHAPTER 6.

Account of an English Ship lately sailed from Otaheite. Death of Omai. Captain Cook's Picture sent on board. Otoo visits the Ship. His Visit returned. Natives well disposed towards us. Account of the Cattle left by Captain Cook. Breadfruit plants promised. Visit to the Earee Rahie. Presents made to the Arreoys.

CHAPTER 7.

A theft committed. Deception of the painted Head. Conversation with a Priest. A Wrestling Match. Reports of the Natives concerning other Islands. Some Account of Omai.

CHAPTER 8.

Expedition to Tettaba after a Heifer. Extraordinary domestic Arrangements. Tinah's Mother visits the Ship. A Sheep brought from Ulietea. Heavy Storm. Death of the Surgeon. Taowne and Toahroah Harbours examined.

CHAPTER 9.

A Walk into the Country. The Peeah Roah. Prevailed on by the Kindness of the Chiefs to defer our Departure. Breadfruit Plants collected. Move the Ship to Toahroah Harbour. Fishing. Three of the Ship's Company desert. Indiscretion of our People on Shore. Instances of Jealousy. Mourning. Bull brought to Oparre by a Prophet. The Deserters recovered. Tinah proposes to visit England.

CHAPTER 10.

The Ship's Cable cut in the Night. Coolness with the Chiefs on that Account. Visit to an old Lady. Disturbance at a Heiva. Tinah's Hospitality. A Thief taken and punished. Preparations for sailing.

CHAPTER 11.

Arrival of an Arreoy Woman from Tethuroa. A Present delivered by Tinah for his Majesty. Other Occurrences to the Time of the Ship's Departure from Otaheite.

CHAPTER 12.

At the Island Huaheine. A Friend of Omai visits the Ship. Leave the Society Islands. A Water-spout. The Island Whytootackee discovered. Anchor in Annamooka Road. Our Parties on Shore robbed by the Natives. Sail from Annamooka. The Chiefs detained on board. Part friendly.

CHAPTER 13.

A Mutiny in the Ship.

CHAPTER 14.

Proceed in the Launch to the Island Tofoa. Difficulty in obtaining Supplies there. Treacherous Attack of the Natives. Escape to Sea and bear away for New Holland.

CHAPTER 15.

Passage towards New Holland. Islands discovered in our Route. Our great Distresses. See the Reefs of New Holland and find a Passage through them.

CHAPTER 16.

Progress to the Northward along the Coast of New Holland. Land on different Islands in search of Supplies.

CHAPTER 17.

Passage from New Holland to the Island Timor. Arrive at Coupang. Reception there.

CHAPTER 18.

At Coupang.

CHAPTER 19.

From Timor to Batavia.

CHAPTER 20.

Occurrences at Batavia and Passage thence to England.

...

(LIST OF THE PLATES.

Head of Lieutenant Bligh.

Plan and profile of the deck of the Bounty.

Sections of the Breadfruit.

Plan of Toahroah harbour.

Copy of the draught from which the Bounty's launch was built.

Chart of Islands discovered from the launch.

Chart of part of the north-east coast of New Holland.

Chart of the track of the launch from Tofoa to Timor.)

...

A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS, ETC.