A voyage to the South Sea : $b 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 IndiesBligh, William
History
A voyage to the South Sea : $b 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
Bligh, William
Bounty (Ship); Bounty Mutiny, 1789; Oceania -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Voyages and travels
We stopped at a house belonging to Tinah where I was treated with a
concert of one drum and three flutes with singing by four men. I made
some presents to the performers and we removed to Oreepyah's house where,
after paying my compliments to him, which I found was expected, Tinah
made me a present of a large hog and some coconuts. He then introduced an
uncle of his called Mowworoah, a very old man much tattooed and almost
blind. To this chief I made a present and soon after I embarked with
Tinah, Oreepyah, their wives, and Poeeno. A vast number of people were
collected on the beach to see us depart and as soon as the boat had put
off Tinah desired me to fire my pocket pistol, the poopooe ete ete, as he
called it: the report seemed to electrify the whole crowd but, finding no
harm done, they gave great shouts of approbation.
Nelson, who accompanied me in this expedition, had but little opportunity
to search after plants, the natives having crowded so much about him: he
saw enough however to assure him that they were to be procured here as
plentifully as at Matavai.
In our passage to the ship, which we rowed in one hour, nothing but
Britannie was enquired after and of the number of ships and guns. When I
told them we had ships of 100 guns they could not believe it till I drew
one on paper: they then asked me if it was not as big as Tarrah, which is
a high projecting headland halfway between Matavai and Oparre, called by
us One-tree Hill. Tinah much wished that one of these large ships should
be sent to Otaheite and that myself should come in her, and bring him a
number of things that he wanted; among which he particularly desired beds
and high-backed elbow chairs might not be forgotten: a request perfectly
according with the indolent character of Tinah.
November. Saturday 1.
As we had occasion to fix a tent on Point Venus this morning we moved the
ship nearer to it and moored again in six fathoms, the point bearing
north-north-east.
Tinah and several other chiefs dined on board with me. After dinner I
went on shore with Tinah and made a visit to his father Otow. I likewise
went to the garden which I had made near Poeeno's house and found
everything had been taken care of. After this I was invited to an
entertainment called Heiva, which Tinah had ordered and which consisted
of singing and dancing by three men and a young girl. When this
performance was finished I returned to the ship.
Sunday 2.
At daylight I sent Mr. Christian with a party to erect our tent and soon
after followed myself with Tinah, Moannah, and Poeeno. With their consent
I fixed a boundary, within which the natives were not to enter without
leave and the chiefs cautioned them against it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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