blame, for having allowed them to indulge for six whole
months among this voluptuous and fascinating people; for though he was
one of the most active and anxious commanders of his time, 'the
service,' as is observed by a naval officer, 'was carried on in those
days in a very different spirit from that which regulates its movements
now, otherwise the _Bounty_ would never have passed six whole months at
one island "stowing away the fruit," during which time the officers and
seamen had free access to the shore. Under similar circumstances
nowadays, if the fruit happened not to be ready, the ship would have
been off, after ten days' relaxation, to survey other islands, or
speculate on coral reefs, or make astronomical observations; in short,
to do something or other to keep the devil out of the heads of the
crew.'[8] Bligh would appear to have been sensible of this on his next
expedition in the _Providence_, for on that occasion he collected more
bread-fruit plants than on the former, and spent only half the time in
doing so.

Be that as it may, Bligh might naturally enough conclude that the seamen
were casting 'a lingering look behind' towards Otaheite. 'If,' says
Forster (who accompanied Cook), 'we fairly consider the different
situations of a common sailor on board the _Resolution_, and of a
Taheitan on his island, we cannot blame the former if he attempt to rid
himself of the numberless discomforts of a voyage round the world, and
prefer an easy life, free from cares, in the happiest climate of the
world, to the frequent vicissitudes which are entailed upon the
mariner. The most favourable prospects of future success in England,
which he might form in idea, could never be so flattering to his senses
as the lowly hope of living like the meanest Taheitan. And supposing him
to escape the misfortunes incident to seamen, still he must earn his
subsistence in England at the expense of labour, and "in the sweat of
his brow," when this oldest curse on mankind is scarcely felt at
Taheite. Two or three bread-fruit trees, which grow almost without any
culture, and which flourish as long as he himself can expect to live,
supply him with abundant food during three-fourths of the year. The
cloth-trees and eddo-roots are cultivated with much less trouble than
our cabbages and kitchen-herbs. The banana, the royal palm, the golden
apple, all thrive with such luxuriance, and require so little trouble,
that I may venture to call them spo