igators, so that little doubt was
entertained that a scheme so admirably planned would be adequately
executed*. When their elopement was discovered, a pursuit was ordered
by the governor. But the fugitives had made too good an use of the
intermediate time to be even seen by their pursuers. After the escape of
Captain Bligh, which was well known to us, no length of passage or hazard
of navigation seemed above human accomplishment. However to prevent future
attempts of a like nature, the governor directed that boats only of stated
dimensions should be built. Indeed an order of this sort had been issued
on the escape of the first party, and it was now repeated with additional
restrictions.

[*It was my fate to fall in again with part of this little band of
adventurers. In March 1792, when I arrived in the Gorgon, at the Cape of
Good Hope, six of these people, including the woman and one child, were put
on board of us to be carried to England. Four had died, and one had jumped
overboard at Batavia. The particulars of their voyage were briefly as
follows. They coasted the shore of New Holland, putting occasionally into
different harbours which they found in going along. One of these harbours,
in the latitude of 30 degrees south, they described to be of superior
excellence and capacity. Here they hauled their bark ashore, paid her seams
with tallow, and repaired her. But it was with difficulty they could keep
off the attacks of the Indians. These people continued to harras them so
much that they quitted the mainland and retreated to a small island in
the harbour, where they completed their design. Between the latitude of 26
degrees and 27 degrees, they were driven by a current 30 leagues from the
shore, among some islands, where they found plenty of large turtles. Soon
after they closed again with the continent, when the boat got entangled in
the surf and was driven on shore, and they had all well nigh perished. They
passed rough the straits of Endeavour and, beyond the gulf of Carpentaria,
found a large freshwater river, which they entered, and filled from it
their empty casks.

Until they reached the gulf of Carpentaria, they saw no natives or canoes
differing from those about Port Jackson. But now they were chased by large
canoes, jitted with sails and fighting stages, and capable of holding
thirty men each. They escaped by dint of rowing to windward. On the 5th
of June 1791 they reached Timor, and pretended that they had