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James Morrison Journal
The Pandora

14th. Bent the Sails and got evry thing on board and on the 21st Weighd & saild for Oparre, leaving in Maatavye Mr. Stuart, Mr. Heywood, Coleman & Skinner. We anchor'd at the lower part of Oparre where we were Join'd By Norman, Ellison and Byrn, making our number now seven, being McIntosh, Millward, Heildbrandt & Myself.

22nd. Weighd & saild for Papaara, but having light airs we anchord at Taboona, and weighd on the 23rd, sailing along Attahooroo, which from its White Beach an2010-03-20row border of Flat land Covered With Trees, (Chiefly Poorow and Fwharra) we thought much resembled the North side of Toobouai. We were invited to stop at several places where the Natives were very Civil, and Pohooataya begd us to Stop at his house, but the Anchoring being bad at Tye tabboo (that part of Attahooroo where he now lived) we declined, and stood on, the wind being still light; it was night before we reach'd Papaara. We anchord for the night with in a break of the reef about a Mile from Tommarees house. Some went on shore to Tommarees to Sleep, & he Came down to View the Schooner as soon as he had notice of Her Arrival. Next Morning we Weighd, and workd up to the Morai, and Came to an Anchor, here we found Burket, Sumner, Brown & Muspratt. We went on shore to Tommarees to Breakfast but were scarcely sat down when a Friend of Heeteheetes arrived in haste, telling us that a ship had anchord at Maatavye since we had left it, that those who we had left there were gone on board, and that the Boats Mand and Armd were then at Atahooroo in their Way after us, that Heete-heete who was their Pilot had sent him to give us Notice that we might know how to act. No time was now to be lost in fixing on the best plan, and it was agreed to avoid seeing the Boats: and for this reason we got on board leaving Brown & Byrn on shore, and Got under way stood out with a fresh Breeze at E S E standing to the Southward on a Wind.—we hoped by keeping out of sight of the Boats to reach the Ship and go on board of our own accord, hoping thereby to have better treatment then if we stayd to be made prisoners, and Heete-heetes Messenger had given us a very unfavourable account of the Treatment of those who went on board from Maatavye.

When we were about a league from the land we saw two sail to leeward, but could not disern whether they were Boats or Canoes, but as we left them apace we thought they could be no other then Fishing Canoes. Soon after noon we lost sight of them, and at 4 oClock we hove about & stood in, but it was Sunday the 27th before we could fetch in, owing to the Contrary winds & light airs which prevailed.

When we Anchord we were informd that Mr. Hayward, formerly of the Bounty, was Officer of one of the Boats, which proved to be the same we had seen, who finding they were not like to come up with the Chase had returned to the ship; we also learnt that Byrn had gone to the Ship and Brown having plunder'd Burketts house of all that he could, was gone on board also. Tommaree, seeing Brown seizing on all that he could find, had sent evry thing back into the Mountains where Burkett, Sumner, Muspratt, Heildbrandt, McIntosh & Millward, went after them, leaving Norman, Ellison and Myself to take Care of the Vessel; in the Mean time I went on shore to get some Cocoa Nuts & some provisions dressd, leaving Norman and Ellison on board, and as the surf run high on the Beach I took no arms with me, when I left the Vessel, when I went to Tommaree he promised that I should have what I wanted Imediately. I told Him that we must go to the Ship, when he said 'if you do Hayward will kill you for He is very angry'. He ordered some hands to carry off Cocoa Nuts and in the Mean time pressd me to stay with him, saying 'if you will go into the Mountains they will never be able to find you'; but I still denyd him; telling him that I must go to the ship. He then upbraided me with deceiving him, and told me that I should not go, and at the same instant I observed several of the Natives on board the Schooner (where they had gone by Tommarees order and under pretence of carrying Cocoa Nuts on board) had taken the Opportunity of Seizing Norman and Ellison and throwing them overboard. I then begd Tommaree to prevent them from being hurted, when he told me that there was no fear of them, and in a few minutes after they landed and were Conducted to Me amidst a Thousand or More of the Natives, when they Pourd so fast on board the Schooner that they bore her down on one side and she rolld the most of them overboard; however they soon stripd her of evry thing that they could remove and brought the things on shore, unbending the Sails & unreeving the rigging which they brought away with them.

We askd Tommaree what was the Meaning of this Treatment, and seeing nothing of our Companions and being unarmed ourselves we hardly knew what to think of our situation; he told us it was because we wanted to leave Him, and told us we must go and secure ourselves in the Mountains and keep away from the Ship and we should have our arms and evry thing restored, and he would make good all our damages. We still refused; when he said 'then I'll make you go', and his men Seized us and was proceeding in land with us when we begd of Tommaree to let us see some of our Shipmates before we went, which he agreed to & a Guard was placed over us, till he should return. We were conducted to the house of Tayreehamoedooa where we had provisions prepared in abundance.

We staid here all Night, and next day, When we proposed to make our escape, and a Trusty friend who had lived with me all the time I had been on the Island, being one of Poenos Men, found us out and promised to have a Canoe ready by Midnight to carry us to Maatavye, where he said that Poeno waited with impatience to see us. As soon as it was night, he took his station on the Beach, and about 10 oClock brought Brown into the House; we asked him if he had any arms, when he produced a Pistol which he said he had brought from the Ship with two hatchets & a knife, these He delivered into Normans hands, and asked us what we meant to do, & where the rest were, to which we answerd that we had not seen the others since they landed and we were going to the Ship and askd Him the Name of the Ship & her Commander; but the only account he could give was that she was an English Ship of War and Could inform us No farther. He also Produced a Bottle with some hollands Geneva of which he offered each a Dram, but the smell proved sufficient for Me and the other two drank but sparingly. Brown told us that He had been Landed at the North Side of the Isthmus by the Ships Boat of which Mr. Hayward had Command, and was sent to Papaara with presents for Tommare, but had not seen him, he said he had been beset near the Morai and narrowly escaped being Killd, his Pistol being wet would not fire, and was forced to shelter himself in the thick Brush near the Morai, and was proceeding to return to the Ship when he was met on the Beach by our Man.

The Canoe being ready we armd, Norman & Myself with a hatchet each Ellison the large Knife, and left the Pistol with Brown, who fresh Primed it, & we set forward; having got to the Canoe without interuption we got in and paddled to Attahooroo, landing about 6 Miles from Papaara on a sandy Beach, Mar 29, 1791 which being white was of some help to us in Travelling; here we left the Canoe and proceeded alongshore for 12 or 14 Miles and reachd Pohooatayas House at Tyetabboo about 4 in the Morning of the 29th. Here we found a launch at anchor near the beach, and some Canoes hauld up near the House. We haild the boat but received no answer; those on board being all fast a sleep, as were those who were on shore in the Canoes.

On Enquirey we found that the Canoes belong'd to Areepaeea, who was Here with them, and the Officer Commanding the Boat was Mr. Robert Corner (Second Lieut of His Majestys Ship Pandora Captain Edwards) who being asleep in one of the Canoes we waked him and delivered our selves up to Him, telling Him who we were, and delivering the Hatchets to Brown when he came up, also the Pistol and amunition which he had given to Norman by the Way.

Having informed Mr. Cornor where the Schooner was, and what had happend to us, he left us in the Launch with Mr. Rickards, Masters Mate of the Ship, and Six Men, and with 18 more he set out (as soon as daylight enabled him to proceed) by land for Papaara, taking Brown with him, we remain'd here till two in the afternoon when Mr. Hayward (who we found was Third Lieutenant of the Ship) arrived with the Pinnace and 20 Men Armd, and by his orders we had our hands tyed and Mr. Rickards being ordered into the Pinnace, Mr. Sevill a Midshipman was put on board the Launch & ordered to proceed to the Ship then 25 or 30 miles distant. Mr. Hayward askd us no other question but where the others were, which we could not answer not knowing ourselves. We parted from the Pinnace about 3 oClock, and during the Passage up, Mr. Sevill gave each of us half a Pint of Wine and from Him we learnt the Fate of the Bountys Launch, and he also informd us that Lieut. Bligh was made Post Captain. He also enquired what was become of the Bounty and who was in her, which we answerd to the best of our knowledge, and we reach'd the Ship at 9 oClock when we were handed on board and put both legs In Irons, under the Half Deck, after which our hands were cast loose; there being no Marines, two Seamen & a Midshipman were posted over us with Pistols & bayonets.

Here we found in Irons Geo. Stuart, Peter Heywood, Josh. Coleman, Richd. Skinner, & Michl. Byrn, who informd us that Handcuffs were Making by the Armourer which were next day put on, and orders Given to the Centinals not to suffer any of the Natives to speak to us, and to shoot the first Man that spoke to another in the Taheite Language. We remaind under the Half Deck some days, during which time we had full allowance of evry thing but grog, which we did not then want, having plenty of Cocoa Nuts provided for us by our friends, who were not sufferd to speak or look at us, any who lookd pitifully toward us were ordered out of the Ship.

In the Meantime a hammock was given to each to spread under us and a shirt & Trowsers given to each of us but these were of no use as we could not get them on and off, our Irons being Clenchd fast. The Carpenters were now set to work to erect a kind of Poop on the Quarter Deck for our reception.

On the 9th of April the Schooner was brought to the Ship by Mr. Hayward, and in her came Thos. Burkett, Jno. Sumner, Thos. McIntosh, Willm. Muspratt, Jno. Millward, & Henry Heildbrand who were Iron'd Hand and foot in the Same manner as we were as soon as they came on board.

The Poop or Roundhouse being finishd we were Conveyd into it and put in Irons as before. This Place we Stiled Pandoras Box, the entrance being a Scuttle on the top of 18 or 20 inches Square, Secured by a bolt on the top thro' the Coamings, two Scuttles of nine inches square in the Bulk head for air with Iron Grates, and the Stern ports bar'd inside and out with Iron; the Centrys were placed on the top while the Midshipman walkd aCross by the Bulk head. The length of this Box was 11 feet upon deck and 18 wide at the Bulk head, and here no person was suffered to speak to us but the Master at Arms, and His orders were not to speak to us on any score but that of our provisions.

The Heat of the place when it was calm was so intense that the Sweat frequently ran in Streams to the Scuppers, and produced Maggots in a short time; the Hammocks being dirty when we got them, we found stored with Vermin of another kind, which we had no Method of erradicating but by lying on the Plank; and tho our Freinds would have supplyd us with plenty of Cloth they were not permitted to do it, and our only remedy was to lay Naked,—these troublesome Neighbours and the two necessary tubbs which were Constantly kept in the place helpd to render our situation truely disagreeable.

During the time we staid, the Weomen with whom we had cohabited on the Island Came frequently under the Stern (bringing their Children of which there were 6 born, Four Girls & two Boys, & several of the Weomen big with Child) Cutting their Heads till the Blood discolloured the water about them, their Female friends acting their part also and making bitter lamentations,—but when they came to be known, they were always driven away by the Captains orders and none of them sufferd to come near the Ship.

Notwithstanding which they continued to come near enough to be observed, and there performd their Mourning rites which on the day the Ship Weighd, were sufficient to evince the truth of their Grief & melt the most obdurate Heart. It being Customary for the Officer of the Watch to examine our Irons before he was releived, McIntosh happening to have a large Shackle had got one of his legs out in the Night, which was reported to the Captain and a general examination took place, when the leg Irons were reduced to fit close, and Mr. Larkan the First Lieut. in trying the Handcuffs took the Method of setting his foot against our breasts and hauling the Handcuffs over our hands with all his Might, some of which took the Skin off with them, and all that could be hauld off by this Means were reduced, and fitted so close, that there was no possibility of turning the Hand in them, and when our wrists began to swell he told us that 'they were not intended to fit like Gloves'.

However Colemans legs being much swelld he was let out of Irons as was also Norman & Byrn on their falling sick, but they were always handcuffd at night. McIntosh & Ellisons arms being much galld by their Irons Had them taken off till they should get well, but their legs were still kept fast.

May, 1791. The Schooner being fitted, & the Water Compleat we saild from Taheite on the eigth of May and on the l0th had our Grog served in full allowance. We stood to the N. W. and next day made Hooaheine & Ryeatea, Tahaa &c. and laid off and on here several days, sending the Schooner in with the land, and here Heete-heete was landed having come from Taheite in the ship. We next proceeded to Wytootaekee and Palmerstons Isles and in the examination of them the Jolly Boat with Mr. Sevill & four hands (one of which the Son of the Boatswain of the Pandora) was lost, by being blown off when going to the Schooner which lay at anchor near the Reef; the Ship & Schooner both run to leeward in quest of her but to no purpose. On these Islands was found Part of the Bountys Driver Yard which was in the raft that went a drift from Toobouai.

June, 1791. Standing to the Northward several Islands were discovered and at one of them Calld Chatham Island the Schooner was Missed and given over for lost. We Cruized some time in search of Her but without success and stood for the Friendly Islands, where meeting with wet weather, the roughness of the Work made our Habitation very leaky, and when any rain fell we were always wet, we applyd to the First Lieut. to have something done to remedy it to which he replyd, 'I am Wet too and evry body on Deck and it will dry when the Weather Clears up'.

Our miserable situation soon brought sickness on amongst us and the Surgeon (Mr. Hambleton), a very humane Gentleman, gave us all the assistance in his power, but at the same time informd us that Captain Edwards had given such orders that it was out of his power to be of any service to us in our present Circumstances; however between him & the Second Lieut. a Copper Kettle was provided to boil our Cocoa in which was served with Sugar in Lieu of Butter & Cheese—and this with the Divine Providence kept us alive. As the place was washd twice a week we were washd with it, there being no room to shift us from place to place and we had no other alternative but standing up till the Deck dried (which we could but very badly do when the ship had any motion) or lying down in the wet.—and when the roughness of the weather gave the Ship any Motion we were not able to keep ourselves fast, to remedy which we were threatened to be stapeld down by the Captain, but Mr. Corner gave us some short boards to Check ourselves with which he made the Carpenters secure; and thereby prevented us from Maiming each other and ourselves. We anchord at Annamooka where we wooded and watered and returned to the Northward again in quest of the Schooner, leaving a letter with one of the Chiefs for her if she should come in our absence, and it is possible that if she had Come here that She would have been plundered by the Natives who behaved very indifferently even to the Ship; the 2nd Lieut. being knockd down on shore by some of them and some of the Men stripd stark Naked, and Some of them having got into the Cabbin Jumpd out of the Windows with several of the Captains Books &c.—but being persued they left the things and escaped. One of their Canoes was seized for the Captain & brought on board.

July, 1791. At Chatham Isles the Natives were also very dexterous at theiving, and one of them made a shift to get out of the port in the Lieutenants birth under the Half deck with a New Uniform Jacket belonging to Mr. Hayward, which he put on as soon as he was a stern of the Ship and paddled off with it. We Cruized 10 or 12 days and returnd to Annamooka without hearing any tidings of the Schooner, and her and her Crew were both given over as lost.

The Natives of the New discovered Isles seem to differ very little from the Friendly Islanders; their Language seems to be the same, and the Construction of their Canoes is very near alike, they have hogs, but they are remarkably small—these Islands are high, but do not appear to be very fruitful, and are about 2 days run to the N E b N of Annamooka.

Yams were now purchased by the Purser to Issue in lieu of Bread, which were served at the rate of 3 lbs of Yam for one of Bread while they lasted, and having Compleated the Water Saild from Annamooka about the 1st of August steering to the N W, and it was now known that her destination was for the Island of Timor.

August, 1791. Several Islands were discovered on this passage, and on the 22nd made the reef which Crosses the Streights in the Latitude of 9°, having narrowly escaped running on a Patch about a Mile long, which lay by it self but a few days before—this was Calld Well's Reef from its being discovered in the Night by a young man of that name.

Finding no opening in the Reef, we hauld to the Southward working to windward some days, and on Sunday the 28th of August the 2nd Lieut. was sent to find an Opening in the reef with the Yaul and the Ship hove too— and on Monday the 29th at 7 P M the Ship went on the Reef. Just at the time the boat returnd within hail and warnd them of the Danger, but it was now too late, the Current running fast towards the reef caused a heavy surf in which the Ship was forced on to the reef with Violent and repeated strokes and we expected evry surge that the Masts would go by the Board. Seeing the Ship in this situation we judged she would not hold long together, and as we were in danger at every stroke of killing each other with our Irons, we broke them that we might be ready to assist ourselves and keep from killing each other, and Informed the Officers what we had done. When Mr. Corner was acquainted with it he Came aft and we told him we should attempt nothing further, as we only wanted a Chance for our lives; which he promised we should have, telling us not to fear. In the Meantime the Ship lost her rudder and with it part of the Stern post and having beat over, between 11 & 12 she was brought up in 1 fathom with both anchors, and the first news was nine feet water in the Hold! Coleman, Norman and McIntosh were ordered out to the Pumps, and the Boats got out. As soon as Captain Edwards was informd that we had broke our Irons he ordered us to be handcuffd and leg Irond again with all the Irons that could be Mustered, tho we beggd for Mercy and desired leave to go to the pumps; but to no purpose, his orders were put into execution, tho the Water in the Hold was increased to 11 feet and one of the Chain pumps broke—the Master at Arms and Corporal were now armd with each a Brace of Pistols and placed as additional Centinals over us, with Orders to fire amongst us if we made any Motion; and the Master at Arms told us that the Captain had said he would either shoot or hang to the Yard Arms those who should make any further attempt to break the Irons. We found there was no remedy but prayer, as we expected never to see Daylight and having recommended ourselves to the Almighty protection we lay down and seemd for a while to forget our Miserable Situation, tho we could hear the Officers busy getting their things into the Boats which were hauld under the stern on purpose & heard some of the Men on Deck say 'I'll be damnd if they shall go without us'.

This made some of us start, and moving the Irons, the Master at Arms said 'fire upon the rascals'—as he was then Just over the Scuttle I spoke to him and said 'for gods sake dont fire, whats the matter there is none here moving'—in a few Minutes after, one of the Boats broke a drift and having but two Men in Her she could not reach the Ship again till another was sent with hands to bring her back, and now we began to think they would set off together, as it was but natural to suppose that evry one would think of himself first—however they returnd, & were secured with better Warps, and now we learnt that the Booms being Cut loose for the purpose of Making a Raft one of the Topmasts fell into the Waist and Killd a Man who was busy heaving the Guns overboard and evry thing seemd to be in great confusion—at day light in the Morning the Boats were hauld up and most of the Officers being aft on the top of the Box we observed that they were armd, and preparing to go into the Boats bv the Stern ladders—we Beggd that we might not be forgot, when by Captain Edwards's Order Joseph Hodges, the Armourers Mate of the Pandora, was sent down to take the Irons of Muspratt & Skinner & send them & Byrn (who was then out of Irons) up, but Skinner being too eager to get out got hauld up with his handcuffs on, and the other two following him Close, the Scuttle was Shut and Bar'd before Hodges could get to it and he in the Mean time knockd off my hand Irons & Stuarts.

I beg'd of the Master at Arms to leave the Scuttle open when he answerd 'Never fear my boys we'll all go to Hell together'. The words were scarcely out of his Mouth when the Ship took a Sally and a general cry of 'there She Goes' was heard, the Master at Arms and Corporal with the other Centinals rolld overboard, and at the same instant we saw through the Stern Ports Captain Edwards astern swiming to the Pinnace which was some distance astern, as were all the Boats who had shoved off on the first Appearance of a Motion in the Ship. Burkett & Heildbrandt were yet handcuffd and the Ship under Water as far as the Main Mast and it was now begining to flow in upon us when the Devine providence directed Wm. Moulter (Boatswains Mate) to the place. He was scrambling up on the Box and hearing our Crys took out the Bolt and threw it and the Scuttle overboard, such was his presence of Mind tho He was forced to follow instantly himself. On this, We all got out except Heildbrandt and were rejoiced even in this trying scene to think that we had escaped from our prison—tho It was full as much as I could do to clear my self of the Driver boom before the Ship Sunk—the Boats were now so far off that we could not distinguish one from the other, however observing one of the Gangways Come up I swam to it and had scarcely reachd it before I perceived Muspratt on the other end of it, having brought him up with it but it falling on the Heads of several others sent them to the Bottom; here I began to get ready for Swimming and the top of our Prison having floated I observed on it Mr. P. Heywood, Burket & Coleman & the First Lieut. of the Ship, and seeing Mr. Heywood take a short plank and set off to one of the Boats, I resolved to Follow him and throwing away my trowsers, bound my loins up in a Sash or Marro after the Taheite Manner, got a short plank & followed and after having been about an hour and a half in the Water, I reachd the Blue Yaul and was taken up by Mr. Bowling, Masters Mate, who had also taken up Mr. Heywood. After taking up several others we were landed on a small sandy Key on the Reef about 2 or 3 Miles from the Ship. Here we soon found that Four of our fellow prisoners were drown'd, two of which, Skinner and Heildbrandt, with their Handcuffs on, and Stuart and Sumner were struck by the Gangway. Burket being landed with his handcuffs on, the Captain ordered them to be taken off. We also learnt that 31 of the Pandoras Ships Company were lost, among whom were the Master at Arms & Ships Corporal—but all the Officers were Saved. A Tent was now [pitched] for the Officers & another for the Men, but we were not suffered to come near either, tho the Captain had told us, that we should be used as well as the Ships Company but we found that was not the Case, for on requesting of Captain Edwards a spare boats sail to shelter us from the sun being mostly naked it was refused tho no use was made of it; and we were ordered to keep on a part of the Island by our selves, to windward of the Tents, not being suffered to speak to any person but each other. Aug 31, 1791 The provision saved being very small this days allowance was only a Mouthful of Bread, and a Glass of wine; the water being but a small quantity, none could be afforded. We staid here till Wednesday morning the 31st, fitting the Boats during which time the Sun took such an effect on us, who had been Cooped up for these five Months, that we had our skin flea'd off, from head to foot, tho we kept our Selves Covered in the Sand during the heat of the Day, this being all the Shelter that the Island affoards, the whole of it being no more then a small Bank washd up on the reef which with a Change of wind might dissapear, it being scarcely 150 Yards in Circuit and not more then 6 feet from the level at high water. There are two More of the Same kind of which this is in the Middle; between it and the one to the Southward is a Deep Channel through which a Ship might pass in safety. These Keys are laid down by Captain Edwards and their Latitude is between 10° and 11° South, about one Days run from the North Cape of New Holland.

During the Night as we found the Air very Chilly and having no covering, we threw up a bank of sand to sleep under the lee of, which proved but an indifrent barrier as we had frequent flying showers of rain sufficient to make our lodging Miserable tho not sufficient to save any to allay our thirst which was very great. We tryd for water but found none, & Mr. Corner Making a fire got a Copper Kettle which he filld with Salt water and Making it Boil, attended it all Night saving the Drops which the Steam causes in the Cover which he put into a Cup till a spoon full was mustered. And one of the Pandoras people (Named Connell) went out of His senses drinking salt water.

On the 30th the Master went with a Boat to the Wreck, to see if any thing had come up, the Topmast heads being out of water, the Top Gallant Masts struck. He returnd with part of one of the Top Gallant Masts which he saw'd off to get clear of the Cap—and a Cat which he found sitting on the Cross trees. One of the Ships Buoys drifted passt, but was not thought worth going after tho we had no vessel to Contain water when we should find it. The Boats being ready, on the 31st at 10 A M we embarkd in the Following Manner, McIntosh, Ellison & Myself in the Pinnace with Captain Edwards, Lieut. Hayward and 19 officers and men, making her Compliment 24; in the Red Yaul went Burkett & Millward, with Lieut. Larkan and 19 officers & men, making her Complement 22; in the Launch, Peter Heywood, Josh. Coleman & Michl Byrn, with Lieut. Cornor & 27 officers & Men, her Complement 31, and in the Blue Yaul Norman and Muspratt, with the Master & 19 Officers and Men, Making Ninety nine souls in all—and in this situation we had a passage of between four & five hundered leagues to run before we could reach the Dutch Settlement on Timor with the Scanty allowance of 2 Musquet balls weight of Bread & hardly a Jill of water & Wine together for 24 Hours, in a Scorching hot sun now nearly vertical.

We left the Key (which was named Wreck Island) & proceeded to the N W and next morning, the 1st of September, we made the land which we supposed to be Part of New Holland and the Two Yauls were sent in with the land, while we stood on towards an Island, where we hoped to get water & in the afternoon we were Joind by the Yauls who had got Water and having filld their Vessels followed us; they having Joind us we stood into a bay to search for Water and having as we approachd the Beach found that there were some inhabitants on it, tho it was but small and did not appear very fruitful. The natives appear'd on the Beach to the amount of 18 or 19 men, women & Children, who appeard to be all of one Family; they came off freely to the Boats when we found that the Collour of their skins was heightend to a Jett Black by Means of either Soot or Charcoal, they were quite naked and their hair long & Curling but Matted like a Mopp, and some had holes in their ears which were stretchd to such a size as to receive a Mans Arm. We made signs that we wanted water which they soon understood, & a half ancker being given to one of them, & some trifles by way of encouragement, he soon returned with it almost full, which being started into a brecco and gave it to him again. He then Calld a Young Woman who stood near him and sent her for the Water. She soon returned, and with her a Man with a Bundle of Spears, when she came to the Beach the Man who had sent her went and received it, and standing up to the fork in the water, made signs for the Boats to come in, which was declined and He kept retreating. Mean while two of the Men began to prepare their Weapons, & a Javlin being thrown, struck the Pinnace, and an Arrow fired which fell close along side, both were taken up & several Musquets were fired, at which they dropd, and the Man who had the Keg let it fall & fled, but finding himself not hurt, he returnd and took it with him; they soon dissapeared and Captain Edwards ordered the Boats to follow him, putting off and standing to the westward to some other Islands then in sight. At this the First Lieut. seemd displeased, and spoke his mind so loud that Captain Edwards heard him, and desired him to be silent and obey his orders and at his Peril to say no more about the Matter—we reachd the Islands & Examined them but they afforded no water nor any thing eatable, except a sort of plumb which contains a Glutinous Gum which sticks in the Mouth teeth Throat &c.— & were by no Means a delicacy, however they were eaten; but shell fish of which we had brought some from the Key, we could not toutch for want of Water—among the shell fish found on the Key were two large Cockles of the Gigantic sort which Measured about a foot the longest way of the Shell.

Finding no water here, we bore away to the Westward and at 3 next morning made an Island where we hoped to get water, & standing in came to an anchor till day light when we weighd & got Close in, seeing no natives a Party was sent on shore to search for Water which at last they found by digging and evry vessel was filld. The Kettle was boild with Portable soup, & a pint served to each Man with as much water as we could drink, but we were reduced to many shifts to Contain water having made Canvas bags, filling a Pair of Boots & evry thing that would contain water if but for a day was filld and then the whole did not amount to 200 Gallons; a scanty allowance for 99 Men to subsist on who did not expect to reach Timor in less then 14 days and knew of no place where we could recruit till we reachd it and tho we had got an additional stock of water it was no addition to our allowance as we knew not how long the passage would be—having filled our Water we saild to the Westward and for fear of Parting Company in the Night the Pinnace took the other Boats in tow all night which was the Case evry Night through the passage.

The Heat of the Weather made our thirst insupportable and as the Canvas bags soon leakd out, no addition of allowance could take place, and to such extremity did thirst increase, that several of the men drank their own urine, and a booby being caught in the Pinnace the Blood was eagerly suckd, & the Body devided and eagerly devoured; two others were Caught by the other Boats which shared the same fate as the distress was general. We kept a line constantly towing, but never caught any fish tho we saw several.

On the 9th as I was laying on the Oars talking to McIntosh Captain Edwards ordered me aft, and without assigning any Cause ordered me to be pinnioned with a Cord and lasshd down in the Boats Bottom, and Ellison, who was then asleep in the Boats bottom, was ordered to the same punnishment—I attempted to reason and enquire what I had now done to be thus Cruelly treated, urging the Distressd situation of the whole, but received for answer 'Silence, you Murdering Villain, are you not a Prisoner? You Piratical Dog what better treatment do you expect?' I then told him that it was a disgrace to the Captain of a British Man of War to treat a prisoner in such an inhuman Manner, upon which he started up in a Violent Rage & snatching a Pistol which lay in the Stern sheets, threatened to shoot me. I still attempted to speak, when he Swore 'by God if you speak another Word I'll heave the Log with You'* and finding that he would hear no reason & my mouth being Parchd so, that I could not move my tongue, I was forced to be silent & submit; and was tyed down so that I could not move.

*[A method of determining speed of vessel. The 'log' with a marked line attached, is heaved into the water and the marks and seconds counted as the vessel moves away from the log. Here Edwards is threatening to use Morrison as the 'log'.]

In this Miserable Situation Ellison & I remaind for the rest of the passage, nor was McIntosh suffered to come near or speak to either of us; however we made ourselves as easy as we could and on the 15th we made the Island of Timor, when the Boats seperated & Stood in for the land, having had a fine Breeze & fair Weather all the way. We try'd for Water at several places, but could find none till the 16th in the Morning when we found a Well near the Beach & here the Launch Joind us again when we proceeded in Company to Coupang which we reachd at Midnight and came to a Grapnell off the Fort till Morning. We found a Ship in the Road, and a Number of small Craft, and at 8 in the Morning the Captain went on shore to the Governor. About 10 we were landed, and Conducted by a Guard to the Governors house, & from thence to the Castle where notwithstanding our Weak Condition we were put into Stocks and on the 19th the Yauls arrived & we were Joined by our fellow prisoners whose treatment had been better, but their fare the same—Immediately on our landing Provisions were procured which now began to move our bodys and we were forced to ease Nature where we lay, which we had not done during the Passage and some were now so bad as to require repeated Clysters, but the Surgeon of the Place who visited us could not enter the place till it had been washd by the Slaves. We had laid 6 Days in this situation when the Dutch Officer Commanding the Fort, being informd of our distress, came to visit us & taking Compassion on us, ordered Irons to be procured, and link'd us two & two; giving us liberty to walk about the Cell, and now a Guard of the Pandoras Men were placed before the Door in addition to the Dutch Soldiers.

As we were Yet Mostly Naked, we got some of the leaves of the Brab Tree, and set to work to make hats, which we sold to procure us Clothing; but evry article being dear we could purchace nothing here; and thread and Needles being very dear we made but little progress; however we made shift to supply ourselves with Tobacco and some little refreshments. We found that there were prisoners in the Fort, Seven Men a Woman & two Children who had escaped in a Boat from Sidney (or Port Jackson, Botany Bay); they had passd some time on the Governer for Part of the Crew of the Ship Neptune which they reported to have been cast away, but not being able to keep within Bounds, they were discovered to be Cheats, and Confined in the Castle till they should pay the Debt they had Contracted.

October, 1791. We remain'd here till the 5th of October when we were removed on board the Rembang, ye Dutch Ship then in the Road —and Mr. Larkan, being the Officer on this duty, coming to the Prison with a Guard with Cords for the Purpose pinnioned us with his own hands, setting his foot against our backs, and bracing our arms together as almost to haul our arms out of their socketts; we were tyed two & two by the Elbows, & having our Irons knockd off were Conducted to the Beach and put on board a long Boat to proceed to the Ship but before we reachd her some of us had fainted owing to the Circulation of the Blood being stopd by the lasshings—When we got on board we were put both legs in Irons, and our lasshings taken off.

The Botany Bay men were now brought on board by a party of Dutch Soldiers and put in Irons with us, in the Same Manner, and the Ship Weighd in the Evening for Batavia & Next day McIntosh Coleman & Norman were let out of Irons with liberty to walk the Deck. Our hands being now at liberty we expected now to find some little ease, & prepared to go to work on hatts having brought our stuff on board with us, but happiness is not to be always found where it is expected and is ever of a short duration.

The ship was very leaky and we were ordered out of Irons two at a time, for two hours in the fore noon, & two hours in the afternoon with Centinals over us to work the Pumps—this new liberty, as we thought it, we gladly embraced, but soon found our strength unequal to the Task—and I one day told Mr. Larkan that I was not able to stand to the pump at Spell & Spell (the ship requiring the pump continually at work) to which he replyd Tauntingly, 'You dam'd Villain, you have brought it on yourself and I'll make you stand it; if it was not for you we should not have been here nor have met with this trouble', to which I replied 'trouble often comes unsought' and he then ordered me to be silent. However this work was soon at an end for hard work at the pump, and the deck where we lay being Constantly wet, and having no Cloathing under, or over us, soon put us past labour; and we were then kept below, the pumps being now left to the Dutch Seamen and Malay Slaves.

This ship was badly found and Worse Managed and if Captain Edwards had not taken the Command and set his Men to work she would never have reached Batavia, having Split Most of Her Sails in passing the Streight of Bally and having none to bend in their stead very narrowly escaped going on shore. Oct 30, 1791
Nov 7, 1791 However we reachd Samarang, a Dutch Settlement on the Island of Java, by the 30th of October where we came to an anchor, and here we found the Schooner, which had arrived at this Island 6 weeks before, with all her Crew, consisting of a Masters Mate, Midshipman, Quarter Master and Six men, one of which died since their Arrival. They were Joyfully received by their shipmates and the Schooner being brought out of Harbour accompanied us to Batavia where we anchord on the 7th of November.

November, 1791. We were now put on board an old Hulk in the Road with the Pandoras Officers and Men & here McIntosh, Coleman & Norman had the liberty of the Deck as before and here we received 10 shillings per Man for short allowance in the Boats, with which we purchased some few refreshments in addition to the Ships Allowance, being Still Victualled by the Purser of the Pandora. The Schooner being put up for Sale the Captain Purchased her, and sent her as a present to the Governor of Timor & devided the Mony amongst the Ships Company.*

[This was no magnanimous gesture, it was due them as prize money.]

Nankin Cloth was here purchased and served to the Ships Company, and as we had now recovered our health we commenced taylors as well as hat makers, and by Working for the Ships Company got some Cloaths for ourselves which we stood in much Need of, but this was prohibited by Capt. Edwards as soon as he knew it. We remaind here till the 23rd of December during which time we were not permitted to come on Deck but twice, each for about half an hour at a Time to Wash ourselves, and here we enjoyd our Health, tho the Pandoras people fell sick and died apace.

With respect to the City of Batavia I can say nothing, not having had a view of it, but it makes no shew from the Road, the Church & some storehouses being the only Buildings that can be seen from the Shiping. It is situated at the Bottom of a deep Bay or Inlet and surrounded by low and to all appearance Swampy land which has no appearance of Cultivation—the small river by which its Canals are filld emptys itself into the Bay and teems with such filth that the Road where the large Ships lye is little better then a Stagnate Pool; during the Night the Dew falls very heavy and the Morning is generally darkened by a thick Stinking fog which continues till it is exhaled by the Heat of the Sun.

As the Sea Breeze seldom reaches the Road till afternoon and some times not during the Day the Weather is Close & Sultry and the land Wind coming off in the evenings brings with it a sickly disagreeable smell sufficient to breed Distempers among Europeans—to prevent being infected by this, we apply'd for liberty to smoke tobacco which being Granted, all our leisure time was thus employ'd but particularly in the Mornings & Evenings, which we found very beneficial and freed us from headachs &ca. which we supposed to be occasioned by the pestilential vapours. The Climate of Batavia is by no Means calculated for Europeans and together with the new Arrack (a most pernicious liquor) carries off Great numbers daily and such a havock had Death made within the last 6 Months that the Fleet now in the Road were forced to send to Holland for Hands to Navigate them and even now they were not half Mannd, tho the Crews of the outward bound ships were put on board as fast as they came to an Anchor. It was said that 2500 Officers & Seamen had been carried off this season exclusive of the Inhabitants—The Chinese & Natives of the Island do all the Labour in loading & unloading the Ships as the Dutch seamen are mostly removed as soon as the ship is made fast. Provisions here are Neither cheap nor Good, the Beef being all small and lean and Rice is the only substitute for bread, at least all that can be the fare of the Ships Company. Cloathing of all kinds and especially the Manufactures of Europe is dear also, and in fact I could find Nothing Cheap but Arrack which is as bad as poison, but nevertheless it is plentifully used by the Dutch, and it Cost the Pandoras Officers some trouble to keep their Men from using it also.

20th November. The First Lieut., Mr. Larkan, saild in a Dutch ship for Europe with part of the ships Company and on the 23rd of December the remainder were devided Lieut. Corner & Hayward taking each a party and with them the Botany Bay men— and we were put on board the Vreedenbergh in which ship was Captain Edwards with twenty three officers & men and on the 24th she weighd and dropd down to a small Island in the entrance of the Bay Calld Onrest on which the Dock Yard is, and to this place they send their Convicts where they are employd, making Rope & Careening the Ships.

We weighd from this place on the 25th, tideing it out through the Straights, and it was this afternoon before We got any Provisions, having been Victualled no longer then the 22nd by the Purser of the Pandora, and when we got it it was served after the Dutch Method which was thus—two drams of Arrack per Day, equal to 1/3rd of a Pint—three Pounds of Flesh (Beef & Pork) one & a half of Fish—ditto of Sugar, ditto of Tamarinds, half a Pint of Gee half a Pint of Oil, & a pint of Vinager with Rice in lieu of Bread to serve each Man for a fortnight—the rice was little better then Grains, most of it having the husks on it, and the Oil & Tamarinds were fit for no use that we could put them to—Such was our food, and two Quarts of water a day gave us plenty to drink, but our lodgings were none of the Best, as we lay on rough logs of Timber, some of which lay Some inches above the rest and which our small portion of Cloathing would not bring to a level, the Deck also over us was very leaky, by which means we were continually wet, being alternately drenchd with Salt water, the Urine of the Hogs or the Rain which happend to fall.

We passd the Streight of Sunda on the 1st of January 1792 and met with Nothing Material during our passage to the Cape except burying two of the Pandoras Men & several of the Dutch Seamen—this and the Method of Issuing the Provisions was the only thing that occur'd worth Notice, and which as it Shews the true Charracter of Dutchmen deserves Notice, they made Ranson [fr. rançon: ransom], or fortnights allowance, to serve us Sixteen Days and by the time we reachd the Cape they had gaind upon us nearly a fortnights allowance.

March 14th. This day we were let out of Irons two at a time to walk the Deck for two Hours each, but were Scarce able to stand on our feet we were got so weak by living or rather existing on Our Miserable allowance—this was the First and last Indulgence of the kind we had during the Passage, except one or two Who had been let out for a few hours in a day by the intercession of the Dutch Surgeon, and we now found the weather Sharp and Cutting.

15th. Made the Cape of Good Hope and on the 18th came to an anchor in Table Bay, where to our inexpressable Joy we found an English Man of war was riding which we were soon informd was His Majestys Ship Gorgon from Port Jackson, and on the 19th we were sent on Board her, where our treatment became less rigourous and 2/3rds Allowance of Provisions was now thought Feasting.

Shortly after arrived the other Ships with the rest of the Pandoras men. We learnt here that the First Lieut. of the Pandora had saild some time and having left one of his men behind he was sent on board this Ship by Captain Edwards. McIntosh, Coleman & Norman were here at liberty as before and the Rest of us only one leg in Irons, and evry Indulgence Given & Lieut. Gardner of this Ship, in the absence of Captain Parker, very humanely gave us a Sail to lay on which by us was thought a Luxury; and was indeed such as we had not enjoyd for 12 Months before. And here being supplyd with Shirts & Trowsers we laid what trifle of Cash we had out in refreshments and began to get our health & strength very fast having the Benefit of the fresh air which for some time before we had been strangers to, being removed from between Decks to sit on the Fore Castle for 6 or 8 hours evry day.

On the 4th of April Captain Edwards came on board in order to take his passage in the Gorgon and on the 8th she Weighd for England and on the 10th we were ordered full allowance.

18th. Made the Island of St. Helena which we passd near enough to show our Collours and see two Ships in the Road who returned the Compliment by hoisting theirs.

22nd. Made Ascencion and anchord the same day— found riding here an American Schooner belonging to New Providence and having got on board 28 fine turtle Saild on the 24th— after Crossing the Line we spoke an American Brig bound to Bengal, and an English Brig the Prince William Henry, bound to the South Fishery.

19th of June. Anchord at Spithead. On the 21st we were removed to His Majestys Ship Hector where we were treated in a manner that renders the Humanity of Her Captain and Officers much Honor and had Beds given us and evry Indulgence that our Circumstances would admit of allowed.

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