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
After dinner I went on shore and, while I was at the tents, from having
exposed myself too much in the sun, I was taken ill and continued in much
pain for near an hour. This was soon known among the natives and I was
exceedingly surprised to see Tinah and all the principal people, both men
and women, collecting round me and offering their assistance. For this
short illness I was made ample amends by the pleasure I received from the
attention and appearance of affection in these kind people.
Friday 14.
This morning I had numberless enquiries after my health. The weather
being fine I invited Tinah, Oreepyah, and Poeeno, to accompany me to
Tettaha in order to enquire after the cow; and soon after sunrise we set
off in the launch. Tettaha is nearly four leagues from Point Venus. On
our arrival Tinah sent a man to give notice of our visit. The chief of
the district, whose name was Teppahoo, did not appear, but sent a
messenger to demand if I came only to see the cow or to take it away with
me. In answer to this I sent assurances that I only desired to see it,
and the chiefs who were with me spoke to the same effect. I was then
desired to proceed in the boat farther along shore to the westward. In
our way Tinah made me stop among some fishing canoes to purchase fish for
him, which he eat raw with salt water for sauce. When we arrived at the
landing-place a great number of people had collected, and soon after
Teppahoo arrived. Oreepyah and I went with him about a quarter of a mile,
when I was shown one of the most beautiful heifers I ever saw. I asked if
they had any more but they all said there was no other than a bull at
Itteah, as before mentioned. I could not refrain from expressing my
displeasure at the destruction and the foolish separation of these fine
animals. I had shared with Captain Cook in the trouble of this business
and had been equally anxious for the success.
The district of Tettaha is not so luxuriant and fruitful as the country
about Matavai. As I saw nothing of consequence to detain me I made a
present to Teppahoo and, after inviting him to visit me on board the
ship, which he promised to do, I took leave. Tinah had remained all this
time in the boat. I observed that no respect was shown to him at this
place, nor was he able to procure a coconut or a breadfruit otherwise
than by purchasing it. The heifer being here is a proof of this district
not having been friendly to the people of Matavai and Oparre.
In our way back, having to row against the wind, we stopped to refresh at
Oparre, and it was eight o'clock by the time we arrived at the ship. I
kept my fellow travellers on board to supper and they did not fail to
remind me of the king's health.
Monday 17.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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