the botanist, and John Samuel, the captain's clerk.
Incredibly, with all the duties and the supervision of his crew, Bligh found time to keep a journal. On 4 May, 1789, six days after the mutiny of the Bounty, Bligh's journal records the sighting of a "flat topped island." It was Yagasa Levu, set among the maze of reefs that mark the eastern edge of the Fiji Islands.
While Bligh navigated by eye to clear the white water of the breaking surf, other islands were sighted; to starboard was Moce, and to port Namuka-i-Lau.
Steering to pass between the two islands, altering course to pass a small breaking reef, the Bounty launch was clear of the reef barrier that marked the eastern Fijian islands. This massive barrier, reported by Tongans who had been there in their canoes, had kept other seamen from visiting these islands for years. But none had so desperate a need as did the survivors of the mutiny.
Luck seemed to have changed after the abortive landing at Tofua. Bligh had been extremely fortunate to arrive off the eastern barrier in daylight, when he could easily steer clear of the surf. Also, although he did not know this, the stretch of water ahead through which he must sail at night was clear of dangers. An island, Vanua Vatu, was passed during the night, the boat remaining clear of the island's dim bulk. With dawn of the next day Gau and Nairai were smudged on the horizon ahead. It must have been galling to the men in the boat to pass by these lush green islands when they were. already rationed for food and water. But the islands were left far enough to port so the little craft would not be visible to watchers ashore. Although little was known about these islands, the stories told at Tonga about their fierce inhabitants caused their very names to be feared by the seamen.
MAP 2: Fiji Islands
Another night of sailing passed, the boat pitching and rolling on the Koro Sea. With daylight, the island of Koro was abeam to starboard and Makogai was on the port bow. Further away to port were Wakaya and the picturesque jagged peaks of Ovalau. Even with a sharp lookout and unremitting care, the small band of shipmates had still been lucky to avoid running the boat on one of the jagged reefs. After passing Makogai that luck ran out. Suddenly, dead ahead, in poor light, loomed the reef that runs southward from Vanua Levu. Too late to turn, and unconsciously aping Tasman's action in similar circumstances, the boat was headed for a place where the surf seemed least fierce.
The shallow draft enabled the launch to ride right over the reef, pounding slightly and heavily jarring the keel, but inflicting no injury on the occupants.
Sailing on, Bligh was now passing between unseen reefs on either hand. To port was high land, the hills of the main island Viti Levu, while to starboard loomed the hills of Vanua Levu. A middle course was laid between the two islands, and without knowing it the boat was directed through a stretch of deep water between the reefs that ran right through the group to the Yasawa islands at the far northwest.
The stretch of water, many years later, would be named Bligh Water by a government established by his own country. But thoughts of naming his new discoveries had not occurred to Bligh. He was too busy, navigating between the reefs and attempting to sail clear of these islands before he should be sighted by their fierce warrior inhabitants. His wish was almost to be fulfilled, for he was abeam of Yasawa Island, last outpost of the group, and had still not made contact with any warriors. But as he scanned the horizon ahead, finally comprehending that no other islands were visible, one of his men, voice trembling with fear, cried out that canoes were heading towards the small boat.
The canoes, large twin-hulled craft, had just sailed clear of Yasawa Island bound on some mission of their own, when they also sighted the strange craft. The canoes were immediately put on a course to chase the Bounty launch. The lethargy that had overcome the men in Bligh's boat suddenly vanished in the face of this real and immediate danger. Oars were shipped to assist the lugs ails, and the speed of the boat visibly increased. But compared to the swift sailing canoes the boat appeared to have almost stopped. The warriors were making every effort to overhaul the boat, but kept glancing astern where large towering black clouds were covering the sky. Suddenly, and without any reason that the men in the boat could fathom, the canoes broke off the chase and sheered off, altering course back to the island.
As the weary men stopped rowing to watch the retreat, they felt the first sharp puffs of the line squall running down on them. Now sail was lowered as the fierce gusts and heavy rain enveloped them. They would have sought shelter under the sail had not Bligh ordered it to be rigged to catch water from the squall.
It is not certain whether it was the storm or the fact that the canoes would have had to sail dead to leeward, their worst point of sailing, that caused the chase to be called off. Luck was with the boat's crew. The inhabitants of Yasawa well into the 19th century enjoyed a reputation as a fierce and warlike people. In all, 7 May, 1789, had been a memorable day. The journal merely records:
Heavy weather—much lightning and rain—caught six gallons water—chased by two canoes—
Bligh was to meet other dangers, but the remainder of that epic boat voyage does not concern Fiji, except to record that Bligh reached Coupang in Timor, from where he took passage to England, arriving on 14 March, 1790.
The memorable boat voyage won him the respect of his senior officers, as well as promotion to the old rank of "master and commander." The words "master and" were to be dropped from the rank a few years later, but by then Bligh was a post captain. He had only served as a commander for two months before being promoted, although it was customary to serve at least three years in that rank. In addition to his promotions, the Admiralty so far supported him as to dispatch Captain Edward Edwards, in HMS Pandora, to search for the mutineers, who had stated their intention of returning to the island of Tahiti.
So whatever his detractors make of the character of Bligh, their opinion was obviously not shared by that discerning body, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. When another ship, HMS Providence, was made ready to carry out the breadfruit voyage aborted by the mutiny, command was offered to Bligh. This very action implied faith in him as well as exoneration for the mutiny. This time the Admiralty was to correct some of its own mistakes which had caused the mutiny.
The ship chosen for the second voyage was large enough to accommodate a detachment of Royal Marines. A second, smaller vessel, aptly named Assistant, was to accompany Providence as her tender. Bounty, too small to carry marines in addition to her ship's company, had been sent alone.
After the first voyage of Cook in the Endeavour bark, it had been customary to plan for at least two ships in company when making extended voyages to the Pacific. The smaller, more manoeuvrable vessel could be sent ahead to explore dangerous waters. One ship could help the other in case of difficulties of navigation or stranding, and there would also be a greater chance of survival in case of foundering or shipwreck. The reason that these proved dictates of sound commonsense and good seamanship were not followed in the case of the Bounty is easy to explain. There was no money available.
The second appointment would give to Bligh the chance to prove that he could successfully carry out the difficult breadfruit assignment. It was also to give him the opportunity to see the Fiji Islands again. Two men who had sailed in the Bounty and had shared the discomfort of the boat voyage also sailed in HMS Providence-Lawrence Lebogue, a sailmaker, and John Smith, a cook.
The time for collecting breadfruit in Tahiti was much shorter than on the Bounty voyage. With a greater knowledge of plant life, the men arrived in Tahiti when the plants were in prime condition and ready for transplanting. Bounty had arrived at the wrong time of year and had had to wait for the plants to mature. With the larger ship loaded to capacity, the two vessels then commenced their voyage towards the West Indies, passing through the islands
