Voyage of H.M.S. 'Pandora' : $b despatched to arrest the mutineers of the 'Bounty' in the South Seas, 1790-91Edwards, Edward
History
Voyage of H.M.S. 'Pandora' : $b despatched to arrest the mutineers of the 'Bounty' in the South Seas, 1790-91
Edwards, Edward
Bounty (Ship); Pandora (Frigate); Voyages around the world -- Early works to 1800
There was at the same time a party embarked by water, under the command
of Lieutenant Hayward, who took with him some of the principal chiefs,
amongst whom was Oedidy, before mentioned by Captain Cook, who went a
voyage with him, but fell into disrepute amongst them, from affirming he
had seen water in a solid form; alluding to the ice. He also took with
him one Brown, an Englishman, that had been left on shore by an American
vessel that had called there, for being troublesome on board: but
otherwise a keen, penetrating, active fellow, who rendered many eminent
services, both in this expedition and the subsequent part of the voyage.
He had lived upwards of twelve months amongst the natives, adopted
perfectly their manners and customs, even to the eating of raw fish, and
dipping his roast pork into a cocoa nut shell of salt water, according to
their manner, as substitute for salt. He likewise avoided all intercourse
and communication with the _Bounty's_ people, by which means necessity
forced him to gain a pretty competent knowledge of their language; and
from natural complexion was much darker than any of the natives.
Captain Edwards had taken every possible means of gaining the friendship
of Tamarrah, the great prince of the upper district, by sending him very
liberal presents, which effectually brought him over to our interest. The
mutineers were now cut off from every hope of resource; the natives were
harrassing them behind, and Mr. Hayward and his party advancing in front;
under cover of night they had taken shelter in a hut in the woods, but
were discovered by Brown, who creeping up to the place where they were
asleep, distinguished them from the natives by feeling their toes; as
people unaccustomed to wear shoes are easily discovered from the spread
of their toes. Next day Mr. Hayward attacked them, but they grounded
their arms without opposition; their hands were bound behind their back
and sent down to the boat under a strong guard.
During the whole business there was only two natives killed; one was shot
in the dusk of the evening, two nights before the people surrendered, by
one of the centinels, who had his musket twice beat out of his hand from
the natives pelting our party with large stones; but the instant he was
shot, some of his friends rushed in and carried off the corpse.
The other native was shot by the mutineers; when attacked by the natives
they took to a river; a stone being thrown by one of the natives at the
wife, or woman, of one of the mutineers, enraged him so much, that he
immediately shot the offender.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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