Next comes a complaint respecting the mode of issuing beef and pork:  but when a representation was made to Lieutenant Bligh in the quiet and orderly manner prescribed by the twenty-first article of war, he called the crew aft, told them that every thing relative to the provisions was transacted by his orders; that it was therefore needless for them to complain, as they would get no redress, he being the fittest judge of what was right or wrong, and that he would flog the first man who should dare attempt to make any complaint in future.  To this imperious menace they bowed in silence, and not another murmur was heard from them during the remainder of the voyage to Otaheite, it being their determination to seek legal redress on the Bounty’s return to England.  Happy would it have been had they kept their resolution.  By so doing, if the story be true, they would amply have been avenged, a vast number of human lives spared, and a world of misery avoided.

According to this Journalist, ’the seeds of eternal discord were sown between Lieutenant Bligh and some of his officers,’ while in Adventure Bay, Van Diemen’s Land; and on arriving at Matavai Bay, in Otaheite, he is accused of taking the officers’ hogs and bread-fruit, and serving them to the ship’s company; and when the master remonstrated with him on the subject, he replied that ’he would convince him that every thing became his as soon as it was brought on board; that he would take nine-tenths of every man’s property, and let him see who dared to say anything to the contrary.’  The sailors’ pigs were seized without ceremony, and it became a favour for a man to obtain an extra pound of his own meat.

The writer then says, ’the object of our visit to the Society Islands being at length accomplished, we weighed on the 4th April, 1789.  Every one seemed in high spirits, and began to talk of home, as though they had just left Jamaica instead of Otaheite, so far onward did their flattering fancies waft them.  On the 23rd, we anchored off Anamooka, the inhabitants of which island were very rude, and attempted to take the casks and axes from the parties sent to fill water and cut wood.  A musket pointed at them produced no other effect than a return of the compliment, by poising their clubs or spears with menacing looks; and, as it was Lieutenant Bligh’s orders, that no person should affront them on any occasion, they were emboldened by meeting with no check to their insolence.  They at length became so troublesome, that Mr. Christian, who commanded the watering party, found it difficult to carry on his duty; but on acquainting Lieutenant Bligh with their behaviour, he received a volley of abuse, was d—­d as a cowardly rascal, and asked if he were afraid of naked savages whilst he had weapons in his hand?  To this he replied in a respectful manner, “The arms are of no effect, Sir, while your orders prohibit their use."’