k
with a band of human hair, or the fibres of cocoa nut-shell, of admirable
texture, and a rose worked at each corner of the gorget, the same as the
military jemmy of the present day.

We now began to discover, that the ladies of Otaheite had left us many
warm tokens of their affection.

Instructions were given to the commander of the tender to be particular
in guarding against surprise, and a rendezvous established, in case of
separation; and on Sunday, the 22nd of May, made Palmerston's Islands.

The tender's signal was made to cover the boats in landing; and some
natives were seen rowing across the lagoon to a considerable distance.
Soon after their landing, Lieut. Corner and his party discovered a yard
and some spars marked _Bounty_, and the broad arrow upon them. When this
intelligence was communicated to the ship, a signal was made to the party
on shore to advance with great circumspection, and to guard against
surprise. Mr. Rickards, the master's mate, went in the cutter, and made a
circuit of the island.

Lieuts. Corner and Hayward landed on the different isles with
cork-jackets; but the surf running very high all round, rendered it
exceedingly dangerous, and in many places impracticable. Had they not
been expert swimmers, in duty of this kind, they must have certainly been
drowned, as they had not only themselves and the party to take care of,
but the arms and ammunition to land dry.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Sival the midshipman came on
board in the jolly-boat, and brought with him several very curious
stained canoes, representing the figure of men, fishes, and beasts. He
had committed some mistake in the orders he was sent to execute, and was
ordered to return immediately to rectify it; but the boat did not come
back again. A few minutes after she left the ship, the weather became
thick and hazy, and began to blow fresh; so that, even with the
assistance of glasses, they could not see whether she made the shore or
not. It continued to blow during the night, so as to prevent the party on
shore from coming on board. They had been employed during the day in
searching all the islands with particular attention, having every reason
to suspect the mutineers were there, from finding the _Bounty's_ yard and
spars. But at last, wore out with fatigue in marching, and swimming
through so many reefs, and having no victuals the whole day, in the
evening they began to forage for something to eat. The gi