could be procured. She returned with the head of the T.G. mast, a little
of the T.G. rigging, and part of the chain of the lightning conductor,
but without a single article of provision. The boat was also sent to
examine the channel through the reef &c. and was afterwards sent
a-fishing. She lost her grapnel, but no fish were caught.
On the 31st the boats were completed and were launched, and we put
everything we had saved on board of them and at half past ten in the
forenoon we embarked, 30 on board the launch, 25 in the pinnace, 23 in
one yawl and 21 in the other yawl.[75-1] We steered N.W. by W. and W.N.W.
within the reef. This channel through the reef is better than any
hitherto known, besides the advantage it has of being situated further
to the North, by which many difficulties would be avoided when within the
reef. In the run from thence to the entrance of Endeavour Straits there
is a small white island or key on the larboard end of the channel, which
lies in Latitude 11° 23' S., the sides are strong and irregular.
On the 1st September in the morning saw land, which probably was the
continent of New South Wales. The yawls were sent on shore to ground and
look out. They saw a run of water, landed and filled their two barricois,
which were the only vessels of consequence they had with them, and I
steered for an island called by Lt. Bligh Mountainous Island, and when
joined by the boats ran into a bay of that island where we saw Indians on
the beach. The water was shoal and the Indians waded off to the boats. I
gave them some presents and made them sensible that we were in want of
water. They brought us a vessel filled with water which we had given them
for the purpose, and they returned to fill it again. They used many signs
to signify that they wished us to land, but we declined their invitation
from motives of prudence.
Just as a person was entering the water with the second vessel of fresh
water, an arrow was discharged at us by another person, which struck my
boat on the quarter, and perceiving that they were collecting bows and
arrows a volley of small arms was fired at them which put them to flight.
I did not think proper to land and get water by force as land was seen at
that time in different directions, which by appearance was likely to
produce that article, and which I flattered myself we might be able to
procure without being drove to that extremity. I therefore ran close
along the shore of this island and landed at different places at some
distance from the former situation. I also landed at another island near
it which I called Plum Island[77-1] from its producing a species of that
fruit, but we were unsuccessful in finding the article we were in search
of, and in so much want of.
In the evening we steered for the islands which we supposed were those
called by Captain Cook the Prince of Wales' Islands, and before midnight
came to a grapnel with the boats near one of these islands, in a large
sound formed by several of the surrounding islands, to several of which
we gave names, and called the sound Sandwich Sound.[77-2] It is fit for
the reception of ships, having from five to seven fathoms of water. There
is plenty of wood on most of the islands, and by digging we found very
good water. On the flat part of a large island which I called Lafory's
Island,[77-3] situated on the larboard hand as we entered the sound from
the Eastward we saw a burying place and several wolves[77-4] near the
watering place, but we saw no natives. Here we filled our vessels with
water and made two canvas bags in which we also put water, but with this
assistance we had barely the means to take a gallon of water for each man
in the boats. We sent our kettles on shore and made tea and portable
broth, and a few oysters were picked off the rocks with which we made a
comfortable meal, indeed the only one we had made since the day before we
left the ship.
On the 2nd September at half past three in the afternoon we stood out of
the North entrance of the sound. Before five we saw a reef extending from
the North to the W.N.W. and which appeared to run in the latter direction
or more to the Westward.[77-5] On the edge of this reef we had 3¼ fathoms
of water and after hauling to the S.W. we soon deepened our water to 5
fathoms. Besides Mountainous and West Islands seen by Lt. Bligh we saw
several other islands between the North and the West, one of which I
called Hawkesbury Island. We saw several large turtle.
In the evening we saw the Northernmost extremity of New South Wales,
which forms the South side of Endeavour Straits. At night the boats took
each other in tow and we steered to the Westward.
It is unnecessary to retail our particular sufferings in the boats during
our run to Timor and it is sufficient to observe that we suffered more
from heat and thirst than from hunger, and that our strength was greatly
decreased.[78-1] We fortunately had good weather, and the sea was
generally not very rough, and the boats were more buoyant and lively in
the water that we reasonably could have expected considering the weight
and numbers we had in them.
At seven o'clock in the morning of the 13th September we saw the island
of Timor bearing N.W. We continued our course to the W.N.W. till noon,
but the other boats hauled for the land and we separated from them. At
one o'clock we were well in with the land and a party was sent on shore
in search of water, but none was found here, nor at several other places
we examined as we passed along the coast, until the next morning, when
good water was found. We also bought a few small fish, which when divided
afforded some two or three ounces per man. Here the launch joined us
again. They informed us that they had got a supply of water the evening
before.
On the 15th in the morning saw the island of Rotte. At half past three in
the afternoon entered the Straits of Samoa. Before midnight we came to a
grapnel off the float or Coopang and found here one ship, a ketch and two
or three small craft. The launch separated from us soon after dark to get
up to Coopang the next day in the forenoon. On the morning of the 16th by
our account (which was the 17th in this country) at daylight we hailed
the fort and informed them whom we were. A small boat was sent to us, and
myself and Lt. Hayward landed at the usual place near the Chinese Temple
where we were received by the Lt. Governor, Mr. Fruy and Mr. Bouberg,
Capt. Lieutenant of a Company ship that lay in the road, and conducted by
them to Governor Wanjon, who received us with great humanity and goodness
of heart. Refreshments were immediately prepared for myself and the
lieutenant. Provision was provided, the people ordered to land, and they
all dined in the Governor's own house, and an arrangement was made for
the reception and accommodation of the whole party as they arrived.
The church and the church-yard was assigned for the use of the private
seamen, a house was hired for the warrant and petty officers. The people
that were ill were put under the care of Mr. Zimers, the Surgeon-General.
Governor Wanjon did me and Lt. Hayward the honour of lodging and
entertaining us in his own house. Mr. Corner, the second Lieutenant and
Mr. Bentham, the Purser, were received in the house of Mr. Fruy, the
Lieutenant-Governor. Lt. Larkin and Mr. Passmore were taken into the
house of Mr. Brouberg, the Captain-Lieutenant of the Company ship, and
Mr. Hamilton, the surgeon, was accommodated in the house of Mr. Zimers,
the Surgeon-General, and Governor Wanjon did everything in his power to
supply our present wants, or that would contribute to the
re-establishment of our health and strength and even to our amusement,
and this benevolent example was followed by Mr. Fruy, the
Lieutenant-Governor and the other gentlemen of the place. Two months'
provision was provided for the ship's company and put on board the
_Remberg_ [_Rembang_], a Dutch East India Company ship, and we embarked
on board the same ship for Batavia on the 6th October, 1791.[80-1]
Before we sailed Governor Wanjon delivered to me eight men, one woman and
two children who came to Coopang in June last in a six-oared cutter. They
are supposed to be late deserters from the colony at Port Jackson. Food
bills were given on the different departments of the Navy for the
provisions and other necessaries we were supplied with at Coopang and
also for the maintenance and cloathing of the convicts. I sold one of the
yawls to the Lieutenant-Governor and the longboat and the other yawl to
the Commander of the _Remberg_, the ship in which we embarked. The latter
was not to be delivered up until I left Batavia, and I shall make myself
accountable to the Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy for the amount. As
I could take no more boats with me and the pinnace being out of repair, I
left her with the Governor Wanjon with permission to do with her what he
thought proper.
We stopped at Samarang, being an island of Java, where we had the good
fortune to be joined by our tender that had separated from us off the
island of Oattoah. She had all her people on board except one man, whom
they had buried a few days before. She had been stopped at Java on
suspicion, and they were going to send her to Batavia. Mr. Overstratin,
the Governor of the place, delivered her up to me. The tender had
contracted a small debt for provisions &c. at Java, which I shall
discharge. She fell in to the Westward of Annamooka, the island I had
appointed to rendezvous on, without seeing it, and then steered two days
to the Westward nearly in its latitude and fell in with an island which I
suppose must be one of the Fiji Islands, where they had waited for me
five weeks, and then proceeded through Endeavour Straits and intended to
stop at Batavia. With the iron and salt I had provided them with they
were enabled to procure and preserve sufficient provision for their run
to Java.
I arrived at Batavia on the 7th November and on application to the
Governor and Council my people were put on board a Dutch East India
Company's ship that was lying in the Road to be kept there until they
could be sent to Europe, and the sick were ordered to be received by the
Company's hospital at Batavia, and I have since agreed with the Dutch
East India Company to divide my ship's company into four parts, and to
embark them on board four of their ships for Holland at no expense to the
Government further than for the officers and prisoners, which appeared to
me to be the most eligible and least expensive way of getting to England.
Lt. Larkin, two petty officers, and eighteen seamen embarked on the
_Zwan_, a Dutch East India ship on the 19th November and are sailing for
Europe, and myself and the remainder of the _Pandora's_ company and the
prisoners are to embark as soon as their ships are manned. Myself and the
pirates are to embark on board the _Vreedenberg_, Captain Christian and I
have stipulated that myself and the prisoners may be at liberty to go on
board any of His Majesty's ships, or other vessels we may meet with on
mine or my officer's application for the purpose.
Enclosed is the latitudes and longitudes of several islands, &c. we
discovered during our voyage, the state of the _Pandora's_ company, a
list of pirates belonging to the _Bounty_, taken at Otaheite and a list
of convicts, deserters from the colony at Port Jackson. It may be
necessary to observe that these last have several names, and that William
Bryant and James Cox pretend that their time of transportation has
expired, but these two then found a boat and money to procure necessaries
to enable themselves and others to escape, for which I presume they are
liable to punishment, and think it my duty to give information.
Although I have not had the good fortune to fully accomplish the object
of my voyage, and that it has in other respects been strongly marked with
great misfortunes, I hope it will be thought that the first is not for
want of perseverence, or the latter for want of the care and attention of
myself and those under my command, but that the disappointment and
misfortune arose from the difficulties and peculiar circumstances of the
service we were upon; that those of my orders I have been able to fulfil,
with the discoveries that have been made will be some compensation for
the disappointment and misfortunes that have attended us, and should
their Lordships upon the whole think that the voyage will be profitable
to our country it will be a great consolation to,
Sir,
Your most humble and obedient servant,
EDW. EDWARDS.
Philip Stevens Esq."
"Cape of Good Hope,
19th March, 1792.
SIR,
Agreeable to my intentions which I did myself the honour to signify to
you in a letter addressed from Batavia and sent by a Dutch packet bound
to Europe, I embarked the remainder of the Company of His Majesty's ship
_Pandora_, pirates late belonging to the _Bounty_ and the convicts
deserters from Port Jackson, on board three Dutch East India ships as
follows:--
Myself, the master, Purser, Gunner, Clerk, two midshipmen, twentyone
seamen, and ten pirates on board the _Vreedenburg_, bound to Amsterdam.
Lt. Corner, the surgeon, three midshipmen, fourteen seamen, and half the
convicts on board the _Horssen_, bound to Rotterdam, and Lt. Hayward, the
boatswain, surgeon's mate, three midshipmen, fifteen seamen and the other
half of the convicts on board the _Hoornwey_, bound to Rotterdam.
Lt. Larkin with two petty officers and eighteen seamen were embarked on
board the _Zwan_ and sailed from Batavia previous to the date of my
former letter, and I am now informed that she has been at this port and
sailed from hence for Europe more than a month before my arrival.
I found His Majesty's Ship _Gorgon_ here on her return from Port Jackson,
and on account both of expedition and greater security I intend to avail
myself of the opportunity to embark on board of her with the ten pirates
for England, and I request that you will be pleased to communicate the
circumstances to My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
EDW. EDWARDS."
"Admiralty Office,
June, 19th 1792.
SIR,
I beg leave to inform you that I found His Majesty's Ship _Gorgon_ at the
Cape of Good Hope on my arrival there in the _Vreedenburg_, a Dutch East
India Company's ship, from Batavia, and I thought it proper to remove the
pirates late belonging to His Majesty's armed vessel, the _Bounty_, and
the convicts, deserters from Port Jackson (whom I had under my charge on
board the Dutch East India Company's ships) into His Majesty's said ship,
for their greater security, and I took the same opportunity myself to
embark on board on her for England and I hope that these steps will be
approved of by their Lordships.
I gave you an account of my arrival at the Cape of Good Hope and of my
intentions to embark on board the _Gorgon_ with the pirates, convicts,
&c. in a letter which I did myself the honour to address to you from
thence and sent by the _Baring_, Thomas Fingey, Master, an American ship
bound to Ostend.
Inclosed is the state of the company of His Majesty's Ship _Pandora_ at
the time I left the Cape of Good Hope, and the manner in which they were
disposed of on board Dutch East India Company's ships in order to be
brought to Europe and also a list of the pirates late belonging to the
_Bounty_, and of the convicts, deserters from Port Jackson, delivered to
me by Mr. Wanjon, the Governor of the Dutch settlements in the island of
Timor, now on board His Majesty's Ship _Gorgon_.
I arrived yesterday evening at St. Helens, left the _Gorgon_, and landed
at Portsmouth last night and I am now at this office awaiting their
Lordships' Commands.
And I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
EDW. EDWARDS.
Philip Stevens, Esq."
A LIST of convicts, deserters from Port Jackson, delivered to Captain
Edward Edwards of His Majesty's Ship _Pandora_ by Timotheus Wanjon,
Governor of the Dutch Settlements at Timor, 5th October, 1791.
William Allen, }
John Butcher, }
Nathaniel Lilley, }
James Martin, } On board H.M.S. _Gorgon_.
Mary Bryant. Transported }
by the name of Mary }
Broad. }
William Morton, Dd on board Dutch East India Co.'s ship, _Hoornwey_.
William Bryant, Dd 22nd December 1791, Hospital Batavia.
James Cox, Dd, fell overboard Straits of Sunda.
John Simms, Dd on board Dutch East India Co.'s ship _Hoornwey_.
Emanuel Bryant, Dd 1st }
December 1791, }
Batavia. } Children of the above
Charlotte Bryant, Dd 6th } William and Mary Bryant.
May 1792 on board }
H.M.S. _Gorgon_. }
EDW. EDWARDS.
A LIST of one Petty Officer and four Seamen lost in a cutter belonging to
His Majesty's Ship _Pandora_, at Palmerston's Island on the 24th May,
1791.
John Sival, Midshipman.
James Good, }
William Wasdel, } Seamen.
James Scott, }
Joseph Cunningham, }
EDW. EDWARDS.
LIST of Pirates late belonging to His Majesty's ship _Bounty_ taken by
His Majesty's Ship _Pandora_, Captain Edward Edwards, at Otaheite.
Joseph Coleman, }
Peter Haywood, }
Michael Burn, }
James Morrison, }
Charles Norman, } On Board H.M.S. _Gorgon_.
Thomas Ellison, }
Thomas MacIntosh, }
William Muspratt, }
Thomas Burkitt, }
John Millward, }
George Stewart, }
Richard Skinner, }
Henry Heilbrant, } 29th August 1791, lost with ship.
John Sumner. }
(Signed) EDWARD EDWARDS.
STATE of the Company of H.M.S. _Pandora_, Captain Edward Edwards: and the
manner disposed of on board Dutch East India Company's Ships for their
voyage to Europe.
Com. Off. Warrant Petty Seamen.
& Master. Officers. Officers.
Zwan, Lt. John Larkan, 1 2 17
Horssen, Lt. Robert Corner, 1 1 2 13
Mr. George Hamilton Surgeon.
Hornwey, Lt. Thos. Hayward,
John Cunningham, Boatswain, 1 1 2 14
Vreedenberg, Mr. G. Passmore, Master,
Mr. Gregory Bentham, Purser,
Mr. Jos. 1 2 1 18
Parker gunner and 1 Supernumary
belonging to H.M.
armed vessel _Supply_.
Hospital at Batavia, 1
H.M.S. _Gorgon_, Captain
Edwards, 1 2 1
______________________________________________________________________
5 4 9 64
Whole Number borne, 82
Died since ship was lost, 16
Discharged, 1
____
Whole number Ship's company
saved in ship and tender 99
Supernumaries.
Do. Pirates, 10
Convicts, 4 men and 1 woman 5
EDWARD EDWARDS.
"No. 8, Craven Street,
Strand,
9th July, 1792.
SIR,
I beg leave to acquaint you that I have information that the
_Vreedenburg_ and the _Horssen_, two Dutch East India Company's ships, on
board of which part of the company of His Majesty's ship _Pandora_ are
embarked, were off the Start on the 5th of this month, on their way to
Holland, and that the _Hoornwey_, the ship on board which the remainder
of the company of the _Pandora_ were embarked, was expected to sail from
the Cape of Good Hope in about three weeks after the two former ships
left that place, but the account does not mention the day they left the
Cape themselves.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
EDWARD EDWARDS."
LIST of islands and places discovered by H.M.S. _Pandora_, with their
latitudes and longitudes.
Names of Islands. Lat. S. Long. W.
Ducie Island, 24° 40' 30" 124° 40' 30"
Lord Hood's Island, 21° 31' 00" 135° 32' 30"
Carysfort Island, 20° 49' 00" 138° 33' 00"
Duke of Clarence Island, 9° 09' 30" 171° 30' 46"
Otewhy or Chatham, 13° 32' 30" 172° 18' 25"
Howe's Isles, 18° 32' 30" 173° 53' 00"
Gardener's Isles, 17° 57' 00" 175° 16' 54"
Bickerton's Isle, 18° 47' 40" 174° 48' 00"
Onooafow or Probys Isle, 15° 53' 00" 175° 51' 00"
Rotumah or Grenville Isles, 12° 29' 00" 183° 03' 00"
Pandora's Bank, 12° 11' 00" 188° 08' 00"
Mitre Island, 11° 49' 00" 190° 04' 30"
Cherry Island, 11° 37' 30" 190° 19' 30"
Pitt's Isle (South Point), 11° 50' 30" 193° 14' 05"
Wells Shoal on reef, 12° 20' 00" 202° 02' 00"
Cape Rodney, 10° 03' 32" 212° 14' 05"
Mount Clarence between the two Orayas.
Cape Hood, 9° 58' 06" 212° 37' 10"
Look Out Shoal.
Stoney Reef Islands.
Murray's Islands, 9° 57' 00" 216° 43' 00"
Wreck Reef.
Escape Key, 11° 23' 00"
Entrance Key, 11° 23' 00"
EDWARD EDWARDS.
A LIST of 14 pirates, belonging to H.M.S. late ship _Bounty_, taken at
Otaheite.
Joseph Coleman.
Peter Haywood.
Michael Byrne.
James Morrison.
Charles Norman.
Thomas Ellison.
Thomas M'Intosh.
William Muspratt.
Thomas Burkitt.
John Millward.
George Stewart, }
Richard Skinner, } D/d drowned August 29th 1791.
Henry Hillbrant, }
John Sumner. }
EDWARD EDWARDS.
FOOTNOTES:
[30-1] They sighted Easter Island on March 4th, 1791, Ducie's Island on
the 16th, Hoods' Island on the 17th, and Carysfort on the 19th. The
latitude and description of Ducie's Island leaves little doubt that it
was the first island discovered by Quiros on January 26th, 1606 and
called by him Luna Puesta. It appears as Encarnaçion in Espinosa's chart.
Quiros thus describes it: "A buen juzgar dista de Lima ochocientas
leguas: tiene cinco de boj, mucha arboleda y playas de arena, y junto á
tierra fondo de ochenta brazas." Had Edwards but sailed due west from
Ducie Island he must have sighted Pitcairn and discovered the
hiding-place of Fletcher Christian's ill-fated colony.
[31-1] An American vessel.
[33-1] Morrison was Boatswain's Mate of the _Bounty_. He had previously
served as midshipman in the navy, and by talent and education he was far
above the station he held in Bligh's ship. It was he who planned and
directed the building of the fast-sailing little schooner which acted as
the _Pandora's_ tender, was the first vessel to anchor in Fiji, and made
the record passage from China to the Sandwich Islands. Morrison was
chaplain as well as foreman to the little band of shipwrights. On Sundays
he hoisted the English colours on a staff and read the Church Service to
them. He kept a journal, not only throughout the _Bounty's_ cruise, but
during his sojourn with the mutineers in Tahiti, and, though it is not
explained how he contrived to preserve it through the wreck of the
_Pandora_ and the boat voyage, there can be no doubt that it was a
genuine document. At Captain Heywood's death it passed with his other
papers to his daughters. This journal has been annotated and corrected by
another hand, probably Heywood's own, but without material alteration of
the sense. It is filled with acrimony against Bligh from the outset of
the _Bounty's_ cruise, and the form of the entries shows that it was
intended to be the basis for laying serious charges against him when the
ship was paid off. It is needless to add that it does not spare Edwards
in respect of his treatment of his prisoners.
[36-1] The _Pandora_ found one of them at Palmerston Island.
[37-1] Executed at Portsmouth.
[37-2] Pardoned.
[37-3] Acquitted.
[37-4] Drowned in the wreck of the _Pandora_.
[37-5] Morrison said that his plan was to reach Batavia in time to secure
a passage home in the next fleet bound to Holland, and that the return to
Tahiti was occasioned, not by any distrust of his talents, but by the
refusal of the natives, who were anxious to keep them in Tahiti, to
victual the ship for so long a voyage. There were no casks on the
schooner for storing water. Morrison, Heywood and Stewart had planned an
escape from Tubuai in the _Bounty's_ boat, but, fortunately for
them--since the attempt would have been certain death--their plan was
discovered and frustrated by the other mutineers.
[38-1] Oliver, master's mate; Renouard, midshipman; James Dodds,
quartermaster; and six seamen.
[40-1] Oatafu, one of the Union Group, discovered by Commodore Byron in
1765. If the mutineers had settled there they would have starved, for
there is neither food nor water. Since Byron's discovery a native
settlement has been made from Bowditch Island (Fakaago), and the people,
about 100 in number, live on fish, pandanus, and water caught in holes
cut on the lee side of the cocoa-palms.