H M S BOUNTY

The Bounty, (originally the Bethia) was purchased by the Navy and taken to Deptford for refitting and supply on 26 May 1787. The Bounty carried four 4-pounders and ten swivels.

The Bounty was too small and cramped for a long mission. The ships statistics: 215 tons, length on deck 90 feet 10 inches breadth 24 feet 3 inches.

In comparison Captain Cook's Endeavour weighed 368 tons and the Resolution 462 tons.

The refit commenced in June 1787, the great cabin was converted to house the pots holding the breadfruit plants and gratings fitted to the upper deck.

Bligh was appointed commander on the 16 August and could not have known that the events to follow would go into the history books.

On the 23rd December 1787 H.M.S. Bounty sailed from Spithead on a voyage to Tahiti arriving 25th October 1788 having traveled 27,086 miles averaging 180 miles each day.  

Bligh instructed the crew not to tell the natives that Captain Cook had been killed and eaten by the Polynesians of the Sandwiche Isles in 1779 as the Tahitians worshipped Cook as a "God".
 
The Bounty was loaded with breadfruit plants destined for the Caribbean to provide food for the slaves.