A Narrative Of The Mutiny, On Board His Majesty's Ship Bounty Part 10

July 21st. This day I was employed attending the funeral of Mr. Nelson.

The corpse was carried by twelve soldiers drest in black, preceded by the minister; next followed myself and second governor; then ten gentlemen of the town and the officers of the ships in the harbour; and after them my own officers and people.

After reading our burial-service, the body was interred behind the chapel, in the burying-ground appropriated to the Europeans of the town.

I was sorry I could get no tombstone to place over his remains.

This was the second voyage Mr. Nelson had undertaken to the South Seas, having been sent out by Sir Joseph Banks; to collect plants, seeds, &c.

in Captain Cook's last voyage. And now, after surmounting so many difficulties, and in the midst of thankfulness for his deliverance, he was called upon to pay the debt of nature, at a time least expected.

[Sidenote: August 20.]

August the 20th. After taking an affectionate leave of the hospitable and friendly inhabitants, I embarked, and we sailed from Coupang, exchanging salutes with the fort and shipping as we ran out of the harbour.

[Sidenote: 1789. AUGUST.]

I left the governor, Mr. Van Este, at the point of death. To this gentleman our most grateful thanks are due, for the humane and friendly treatment that we have received from him. His ill state of health only prevented him from showing us more particular marks of attention.

Unhappily, it is to his memory only that I now pay this tribute. It was a fortunate circ.u.mstance for us, that Mr. Wanjon, the next in place to the governor, was equally humane and ready to relieve us. His attention was unremitting, and, when there was a doubt about supplying me with money, on government account, to enable me to purchase a vessel, he chearfully took it upon himself; without which, it was evident, I should have been too late at Batavia to have sailed for Europe with the October fleet. I can only return such services by ever retaining a grateful remembrance of them.

Mr. Max, the town surgeon, likewise behaved to us with the most disinterested humanity: he attended every one with the utmost care; for which I could not prevail on him to receive any payment, or to render me any account, or other answer, than that it was his duty.

Coupang is situated in 10 12' S lat.i.tude, and 124 41' E longitude.

[Sidenote: August 29.]

On the 29th of August, I pa.s.sed by the west end of the Island Flores, through a dangerous strait full of islands and rocks; and, having got into the lat.i.tude of 8 S, I steered to the west, pa.s.sing the islands Sumbawa, Lombock, and Bali, towards Java, which I saw on the 6th of September. I continued my course to the west, through the Straits of Madura.

[Sidenote: September 10.]

[Sidenote: Pa.s.sourw.a.n.g]

On the 10th of September, I anch.o.r.ed off Pa.s.sourw.a.n.g, in lat.i.tude 7 36'

S, and 1 44' W of Cape Sandana, the N E end or Java.

[Sidenote: 1789. SEPTEMBER]

On the 11th I sailed, and on the 13th arrived at Sourabya, lat.i.tude 7 11' S, 1 52' west.

[Sidenote: Sourabya. Crissey.]

On the 17th of September, sailed from Sourabya, and the same day anch.o.r.ed at Crissey, for about two hours, and from thence I proceeded to Samarang. Lat.i.tude of Crissey 7 9' S, 1 55' west.

[Sidenote: Samarang.]

[Sidenote: Batavia.]

On the 22nd of September, anch.o.r.ed at Samarang; lat.i.tude 6 54' S; 4 7'

W. And on the 26th I sailed for Batavia, where I arrived on the 1st of October. Lat.i.tude 6 10' S; 8 12' W from the east end of Java.

On the day after my arrival, having gone through some fatigue in adjusting matters to get my people out of the schooner, as she lay in the river, and in an unhealthy situation, I was seized with a violent fever.

On the 7th, I was carried into the country, to the physician-general's house, where, the governor-general informed me, I should be accommodated with every attendance and convenience; and to this only can I attribute my recovery. It was, however, necessary for me to quit Batavia without delay; and the governor, on that account, gave me leave, with two others, to go in a packet that was to sail before the fleet; and a.s.sured me, that those who remained should be sent after me by the fleet, which was to sail before the end of the month: that if I remained, which would be highly hazardous, he could not send us all in one ship. My sailing, therefore, was eligible, even if it had not been necessary for my health; and for that reason I embarked in the Vlydt packet, which sailed on the 16th of October.

[Sidenote: Cape of Good Hope.]

[Sidenote: 1789. DECEMBER.]

On the 16th of December, I arrived at the Cape of Good Hope where I first observed that my usual health was returning; but for a long time I continued very weak and infirm.

I received the greatest attention and politeness from the governor-general, and all the residents on the coast of Java; and particular marks of friendship and regard from the governor, M. Van de Graaf, at the Cape of Good Hope.

On the 2d of January, 1790, we sailed for Europe, and on the 14th of March, I was landed at Portsmouth by an Isle of Wight boat.

FINIS.