Apr 9, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 11, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
Very fine Weather. Wind ENE but I believe more Easterly at Sea. Thermometer 80 to 80½ Degrees. Ships Draught of Water forward 14 Feet..3 Inches. Abaft 16 Feet..3 Inches. People Employed drying and unbending Small Sails and clearing Ship of everything that could be stolen by the Natives. Got on board a Launch Load of Water.
Thermometer is kept in the coolest part of the Ship.
I had only a few Oparre Cannoes off to me, but a sufficiency of Hogs, Breadfruit and Cocoa Nutts to feed every Person sumptuously. My Visitors were the same as Yesterday, and Iddeeah assured me a Cannoe was sent away to Moreah for Tynah her Husband and his Father & Mother. These People are necessary to my well doing, notwithstanding Iddeeah & Oreepyah seem sufficient to effect my plans, assisted by Otoo (Erreerahigh) who yet a Boy continues to be instructed by them. To morrow I intend to pay him a Visit, and my endeavors will be to establish a Peace, which I have some hopes will be lasting. Nothing could exceed the joy of these People at seeing me.
I received a letter to day, directed to any of His Majesty's Ships that might touch here, from Mathew Weatherland Commander of a Ship called the Matilda. It relates, that in the Latitude of 22°..00 South, and Longitude 139°..45′ West from London, the Ship was lost on a Shoal. He begs my assistance as follows. "I beg your assistance in rectifying the Wrongs I have received on this Island by one Tabyrooo. After the misfortune of losing the Matilda, we were 6 days in the Boat, landed at Matavia and put ourselves under the protection of the above mentioned Man. I had with me one Box containing most of my papers—407 Dollars 17 Guineas & one half, between 3 & 4 pounds of English Silver. A Bag containing a few Necessary Cloaths,—after being in House 6 Days I was turned out without any thing to shift myself with only one Shirt.
Your Most Hble Servant
Mathew Weatherhead
Parry Otaheite
March 29th. 1792
P. S. Sir the Chief Mate and Carpenter will explain the matter more clearly if required. M.W."
On enquiry I found that the Matilda Captain Weatherhead, & Mary Ann Captain Munro, were two Ships that had been at Port Jackson with Convicts. They left England the 27th March 1791, arrived at Port Jackson 1st August 1791 and Sailed the 28 December 1791 bound to the Coast of Peru. On the 14th February 1792 both Ships Anchored in Oaitepeha Bay, where having got a plentifull supply of Hogs and Fruit, they Sailed on the 17th after a stay of two Days. A few Days after they Sailed, the Masters of the Ships agreed to part company, and to meet again in the Latitude of 10 Degrees South, when they should arrive on the Coast to fish for Whales.
On the 25th February the Matilda in a dark Night run a ground upon a Shoal which was of some extent, perhaps about 8 or 10 Miles, they cut away their Masts, lowered their Boats down, and having put a few necessaries into them, they left the Ship about 10 OClock in the Morning.
The Ship's Company consisted of 28 Men and Boys; but a Convict having secreted himself at Port Jackson, the number at this time were 29. They divided themselves into four Boats, and without examining minutely into their situation, they left the Shoal without knowing if any Island or Land was near it ————
They proceeded fortunately to Maitea, & after a Nights rest and kind treatment, they Sailed for Otaheite on the 5 March. On the next Night, by bad Weather, the Boats were seperated, two arrived at Matavai, One at Oaitepeah, and the other round by Attahooroo. The People of Oaitepeeah were too hostile to induce the Boat to remain with them, she therefore proceeded to Matavai and joined the Party that had got there before them. Afterwards, in the course of eight Days, the Men who had landed at Attahooroo also came to join their Companions. It however appeared so much the opinion of the Captain that they should not all remain at one place, the some resided at Matavai, some at Oparre, and some at Attahooroo. They were all dispossessed of their Cloaths & Articles they had with them; but the greatest prize fell in the hands of the Matavai People, under the Command of Poeeno the Chief, and one Tabyroo a Person of some power. The circumstances no sooner became known that Otoo demanded the Articles taken at Matavai, consisting of Money & Arms, in behalf (as he asserts) of his Friends the English; but no restitution was made. Some deliberation immediately took place, result of which was, that on the 19th March War was proclaimed, and the Oparre People came to Matavai destroying Houses, & all the provision kind they could lay their Hands on. The Matavians made very considerable resistance; still retain their Booty, and at this instant the Parties are violently at War with each other.
Notwithstanding our Countrymen were robbed of their Cloaths, they were treated afterwards with much kindness & attention, it would however have been better, if the whole had gone to Oparre under the protection of Otoo, and as there were three, at this time absent with the Matavians; the first step I took was to order them to join their Ship Mates.
The War was interrupted by the Arrival of a Schooner called the Jenny (a) from Bristol burthen 90 Tons. This vessel remained here untill the 31st March, when she Sailed for the NW Coast of America and by this opportunity Captain Weatherhead with Two Boys and one Man, had the means of returning home. He had one passenger more than he expected, a Seaman secreted himself on board & sailed with them as it is supposed, for he has not been heard of since.
(a) Arrived 25th March Sailed 5 Weeks after me from England and came by Cape Horn
While the Jenny remained here the Second Mate, Campbell undertook to go away in one of the Whale Boats for Port Jackson. It was fitted up in a miserable manner with Mat Sails, and himself with two Men, Phillip Christall & John Ba[?]ter sailed the same Day.
The Number of Men now remaining on the Island are 21 including the Convict who has absented himself. Among them is the Chief Mate, Surgeon, Boatswain & Carpenter. The whole of them I directed to stay at Oparre where they are well taken care of.
I find that about 2 Months after I left Otaheite in the Bounty, Christian returned with her to the very great
astonishment of the Natives, whose enquiries were numerous and affectionate; doubting even to the last that
things had gone well with me, and those who were absent. The first questions were
Where is Bry?
He is gone to England
In what Ship?
In Tootes Ship
How came you to meet Toote and where is he?
We met him at Whytootacke where he is going to live, and has sent me for all those who will come and live with
him. The Bull & Cow and as many Hogs as you will send him.
What is become of the Breadfruit?
He has sent it home to England with Bligh.
Every thing was now given to him that he asked and in Eight or Ten Days he left Matavai with several Men and Women (a) & every thing they had.
(a) 10 Men 2 Boys 9 Women 1 Girl ($link$ See 2 May)
In (b) one Month after Captain Cox left this place, Christian arrived again, and having landed 16 of his Villains, he Sailed in the Course of a Day but I cannot find that any person was acquainted with the route he intended to take.
(b) October 1789
It may readily be believed that I found great satisfaction and pleasure to hear of these Wretches all being taken by Captain Edwards except two who were (c) killed by the Indians.
(c)$link$ See 20th April
From the best accounts those taken in the Pandora were as follows —
| George Steward | acting Masters Mate | |
| Peter Heywood | Midshipman | |
| James Morrison | Boatswains Mate | |
| Thomas Burkitt | Ab | |
| John Millward | Ab | |
| Henry Hilbrant | Cooper | |
| William Muspratt | Taylor | |
| Thomas Ellison | Ab | |
| Richard Skinner | Barber | |
| Michael Bryne | Ab | |
| Joseph Coleman | Armourer | |
| Charles Norman | Carpenters Mate | |
| Thomas McIntosh | Ditto Crew | |
| Charles Churchill | Master at Arms | (a) Thompson killed Churchill who was made Erree of Tiaraboo & the Tiaraboo people Killed Thompson. |
| Matthew Thompson | Ab | |
| Sumner | Ab |
George Stewart, Thomas McIntosh, Richard Skinner had each a Daughter by the Women they lived with and
Thomas Burkitt, John Millward had each a Son — I have seen none of them, and some are said to be dead.
The Man who Captain Cox left here called Brown, had a Son. He sailed with Captain Edwards about 4 Months before
Vancouver arrived.
Captain Vancouver and Lieut. Broughton arrived here after the Pandora and stayed about five Weeks. After he (a) sailed a disease affected the Natives that killed many of them, so that they speak of the Ships with a degree of horror and declare it was caught on board.
(a) 12th January 1792 Sail 16th April
The Anchor which Christian left the Natives got and delivered to Captain Edwards.
Apr 9, 1792 Home Providence Log Apr 11, 1792