fenced with stone, and surrounded with a ditch. In fact, Nature has done
so much for them, that they have no great occasion to use exertion in
obtaining a sufficient supply of either food or raiment. Yet when Bligh
commenced taking up the bread-fruit plants, he derived much assistance
from the natives in collecting and pruning them, which they understood
perfectly well.

The behaviour of these people on all occasions was highly deserving of
praise. One morning, at the relief of the watch, the small cutter was
missing. The ship's company were immediately mustered, when it appeared
that three men were absent. They had taken with them eight stand of arms
and ammunition; but what their plan was, or which way they had gone, no
one on board seemed to have the least knowledge. Information being given
of the route they had taken, the master was dispatched to search for the
cutter, and one of the chiefs went with him; but before they had got
half way, they met the boat with five of the natives, who were bringing
her back to the ship. For this service they were handsomely rewarded.
The chiefs promised to use every possible means to detect and bring back
the deserters, which, in a few days, some of the islanders had so far
accomplished as to seize and bind them, but let them loose again on a
promise that they would return to their ship, which they did not exactly
fulfil, but gave themselves up soon after on a search being made for
them.

A few days after this, a much more serious occurrence happened, that was
calculated to give to the commander great concern. The wind had blown
fresh in the night, and at daylight it was discovered that the cable, by
which the ship rode, had been cut near the water's edge, in such a
manner, that only one strand remained whole. While they were securing
the ship, Tinah came on board; and though there was no reason whatever