Orders Issued by William Bligh Concerning the Conduct of the Men of the Bounty

NO. 1.

Rules to be observed by every Person on Board, or belonging to the Bounty, for the better establishing a Trade for Supplies of Provisions, and good Intercourse with the Natives of the South Sea, wherever the Ship may be at.

  1st. At the Society, or Friendly Islands, no person whatever is to intimate that Captain Cook Was killed by Indians; or that he is dead.

  2d. No person is ever to speak, or give the least hint, that We have come on purpose to get the bread-fruit plant, until I have made my plan                 known to the chiefs.

  3d. Every person is to study to gain the good will and esteem of the natives; to treat them with all kindness; and not to take from them, by                 violent means, any thing that they may have stolen; and no one is ever to fire, but in defence of his life.

  4th. Every person employed on service, is to take care that no arms, or implements of any kind under their charge, are stolen; the value of                 such thing, being lost, shall be charged against their wages.

  5th. No man is to embezzle, or offer to sale, directly, or indirectly, any part of the King's stores, of what nature soever.

  6th. A proper person or persons will be appointed to regulate trade, and barter with the natives; and no officer or seaman, or other person
  belonging to the ship, is to trade for any kind of provisions, or curiosities; but if such officer or seaman wishes to purchase any particular
  thing, he is to apply to the provider to do it for him. By this means a regular market will be carried on, and all disputes, which otherwise may
  happen with the natives will be avoided. All boats are to have every thing handed out of them at sun-set.


        Given under my hand, on board the Bounty,

Otaheite, 25th October, 1788.

 

NO. II.
 

All prisoners are to be kept upon deck in fair weather; and the centinel to report their state in the night, every half hour.

The key of their irons is to be taken care of by the master.

The mate of the watch is to be answerable for the prisoners. When they are released for a while, out of necessity, he is to see them again securely confined.

The mate of the watch is to have the charge of a brace of pistols,

and one cartouch box, to be kept in the binnacle.

The mate of the watch is to take care the centinels do not lounge, or sit down.

No canoe is to come on board after eight o'clock at night, or any to go under the bows of the ship upon any pretence; but whatever is handed in or out of the ship is to be at the gangways.

All boats, when moored, to have every thing handed out of them at sun-set: and the centinel is to report the state of the prisoners every half hour, after the watch is set.

Given under my hand, in Oparre harbour, on board the Bounty,

Jan. 24th, 1789.

WM. BLIGH



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