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[Page 3]
what was still more extraordinary, was the Circumstance that now came to our knowledge, viz. the Inhabitants speaking the English language perfectly well, and that the Island was peopled by the descendants of Fletcher Christian, who, in 1788, had mutinied against his Captain, Bligh; conspiring with others to take his Ship from him, turning him adrift with 19 others in a boat; and ultimately retaining possession of the Bounty (a Ship employed by Government to take the Bread Fruit tree plant, from Otaheite to the West Indies under the Command of Captain Bligh) and running away with her to establish themselves on some of the Islands in the Neighbourhood of Otaheite, lease frequented by Europeans. It appears that not having been able to effect this, they returned to Otaheite on the 22nd Septr 1789, when 16 of the Crew having left the Ship