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
On their first coming on board, they trembled for fear. They were
perfectly ignorant of fire-arms, never having seen a European ship
before. They made many gestures of submission, and were struck with
wonder and surprise at every thing they saw. Amongst other things, they
brought us some most remarkable fine puddings, which abounded with
aromatic spiceries, that excelled in taste and flavour the most delicate
seed-cake. As we have never hitherto known of spices or aromatics being
in the South Seas, it is certainly a matter worthy the investigation of
some future circumnavigators. We traded with them the whole day, and got
many curiosities. Birds and fowls, of the most splendid plumage, were
brought on board, some resembling the peacock, and a great variety of the
parrot kind.
One woman amongst many others came on board. She was six feet high, of
exquisite beauty, and exact symmetry, being naked, and unconscious of her
being so, added a lustre to her charms; for, in the words of the poet,
"She needed not the foreign ornaments of dress; careless of beauty, she
was beauty's self."
Many mouths were watering for her; but Capt. Edwards, with great humanity
and prudence, had given previous orders, that no woman should be
permitted to go below, as our health had not quite recovered the shock it
received at Otaheite; and the lady was obliged to be contented with
viewing the great cabin, where she was shewn the wonders of the Lord on
the face of the mighty deep. Before evening, the women went all on shore,
and the men began to be troublesome and pilfering. The third lieutenant
had a new coat stole out of his cabin; and they were making off with
every bit of iron they could lay hands on.
It now came on to blow fresh, and we were obliged to make off from the
land. Those who were engaged in trade on board were so anxious, that we
had got almost out of sight of their canoes before they perceived the
ship's motion, when they all jumped into the water like a flock of wild
geese; but one fellow, more earnest than the rest, hung by the rudder
chains for a mile or two, thinking to detain her.
This evening, at five o'clock, we unfortunately parted company, and lost
sight of our tender. False fires were burnt, and great guns and small
arms were fired without success, as it came on thick blowing weather.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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