| − | After numerous delays, the ''Bounty'' departed England on December 23, 1787. After battling severe storms she stopped at the island of [[Tenerife]] in the [[Azores]] from January 6, 1788 until January 11, 1788 before continuing on. The ''Bounty'' tried to enter the [[Pacific]] via [[Cape Horn]], on the southern tip of [[South America]] between March 28 and April 22, 1788 but terrible weather drove her back, and the ship turned and headed for the [[Cape of Good Hope]] where it arrived on May 24, 1788 and damages were repaired. The ''Bounty'' departed there on July 1, 1788 and crossed the [[Indian Ocean]], stopping briefly at Adventure Bay in [[Tasmania]] between August 21, 1788 and September 4, 1788 in order to resupply. Taking a southerly route from there, the ''Bounty'' passed well south of [[New Zealand]], and discovered the remote Bounty Islands on September 19. The ''Bounty'' finally arrived in Tahiti on October 26, 1788. On the outward voyage, only one man died as a result of an illness. | + | After numerous delays, the ''Bounty'' departed England on December 23, 1787. After battling severe storms she stopped at the island of [[Tenerife]] in the [[Azores]] from January 6, 1788, until January 11, 1788, before continuing on. The ''Bounty'' tried to enter the [[Pacific]] via [[Cape Horn]], on the southern tip of [[South America]] between March 28 and April 22, 1788, but terrible weather drove her back, and the ship turned and headed for the [[Cape of Good Hope]] where it arrived on May 24, 1788, and damages were repaired. The ''Bounty'' departed there on July 1, 1788, and crossed the [[Indian Ocean]], stopping briefly at Adventure Bay in [[Tasmania]] between August 21, 1788, and September 4, 1788, in order to resupply. Taking a southerly route from there, the ''Bounty'' passed well south of [[New Zealand]], and discovered the remote Bounty Islands on September 19. The ''Bounty'' finally arrived in Tahiti on October 26, 1788. On the outward voyage, only one man died as a result of an illness. |
| − | After filling the ship with supplies and breadfruit, Bligh turned the ''Bounty'' towards home and departed Tahiti on April 4, 1789 heading towards [[Indonesia]]. The ship stopped at several islands on the way, but on the island of [[Nomuka]] (which is part of present-day [[Tonga]]) there were thefts and misunderstandings, resulting in a major falling-out with the locals. In the early morning of April 28, 1789, several of the crew, headed by Fletcher Christian (who was now more or less Bligh's second-in-command) and Charles Churchill (the ships Master-at-Arms) seized the ship and set Bligh and 18 loyal crew (including the Master, John Fryer, and David Nelson the expeditions botanist) adrift in the 23-foot ships launch (Bligh managed to navigate the launch and the crew safely to the island of Timor, with the loss of only one man to hostile Tongans). The mutineers along with the several crew members who remained loyal to Captain Bligh, but had not been able to leave on the boat with the others, remained on the ''Bounty'', which then headed back towards Tahiti. | + | After filling the ship with supplies and breadfruit, Bligh turned the ''Bounty'' towards home and departed Tahiti on April 4, 1789, heading towards [[Indonesia]]. The ship stopped at several islands on the way, but on the island of [[Nomuka]] (which is part of present-day [[Tonga]]) there were thefts and misunderstandings, resulting in a major falling-out with the locals. In the early morning of April 28, 1789, several of the crew, headed by Fletcher Christian (who was now more or less Bligh's second-in-command) and Charles Churchill (the ships Master-at-Arms) seized the ship and set Bligh and 18 loyal crew (including the Master, John Fryer, and David Nelson the expeditions botanist) adrift in the 23-foot ships launch (Bligh managed to navigate the launch and the crew safely to the island of Timor, with the loss of only one man to hostile Tongans). The mutineers along with the several crew members who remained loyal to Captain Bligh, but had not been able to leave on the boat with the others, remained on the ''Bounty'', which then headed back towards Tahiti. |
| | Captain Bligh's log entry for the day of the mutiny: ''"April 28, 1789 Seized this day the HMS Bounty, by mutineers led by first mate Fletcher Christian. Just before Sunrise Mr Christian and the Master at Arms came into my cabin while I was fast asleep, and seizing me, tyed my hands with a Cord & threatened instant death if I made the least noise. I however called sufficiently loud to alarm the Officers, who found themselves equally secured by centinels at their doors… Mr Christian had a Cutlass & the others were armed with Musquets & bayonets. I was now carried on deck in my Shirt, in torture with a severe bandage round my wrists behind my back, where I found no man to rescue me. "''<ref>http://www.tenerifenews.com/index.php/lifestyle-mainmenu-31/leisure/8016</ref> | | Captain Bligh's log entry for the day of the mutiny: ''"April 28, 1789 Seized this day the HMS Bounty, by mutineers led by first mate Fletcher Christian. Just before Sunrise Mr Christian and the Master at Arms came into my cabin while I was fast asleep, and seizing me, tyed my hands with a Cord & threatened instant death if I made the least noise. I however called sufficiently loud to alarm the Officers, who found themselves equally secured by centinels at their doors… Mr Christian had a Cutlass & the others were armed with Musquets & bayonets. I was now carried on deck in my Shirt, in torture with a severe bandage round my wrists behind my back, where I found no man to rescue me. "''<ref>http://www.tenerifenews.com/index.php/lifestyle-mainmenu-31/leisure/8016</ref> |
| − | Between October 22, 1789 and January 15, 1790, the ''Bounty'' went on a months-long Odyssey around the Pacific, and was possibly the first European ship to stop at the island of [[Rarotonga]]. Finding no uninhabited island that had fresh water, the ''Bounty'' eventually went in search of the previously elusive Pitcairn Island. | + | Between October 22, 1789, and January 15, 1790, the ''Bounty'' went on a months-long Odyssey around the Pacific, and was possibly the first European ship to stop at the island of [[Rarotonga]]. Finding no uninhabited island that had fresh water, the ''Bounty'' eventually went in search of the previously elusive Pitcairn Island. |