Breadfruits and The Bounty

Fletcher Christian and William Bligh. We know that Fletcher Christian took over the ship, The Bounty. Captain Bligh and those who expressed loyalty to him were set a drift in a small boat. Mr. Christian and the Bounty Mutineers expected that Bligh and his fellow loyalist would never been seen again. That they would drown or wind up stranded on a deserted island where they would die of either starvation,thirst or both.

 Why did Fletcher Christian and his supporters mutiny against Bligh? The traditional explanation that Bligh was cruel, too driven and capricious does not tend to hold true. Bligh was a rather strict disciplinarian but no worse than a typical British naval officer of the time. The best explanation was the dangers of long sea voyages across the vastness of the Pacific Ocean in the late 1700's.

The crossing were rough as the ships were at the mercies of the currents and the winds. The Ships also took on severe damages due to the harshness of the journey. The ships often took on severe damages and the men suffered from illness, severe injuries and death.

 As the 1700's progressed, The European navies developed resupply ports,often friendly islands that were lush, The men gained time off as the ships were resupplied and repaired/ rebuilt before continuing. Tahiti was one such island. It was considered a paradise, The men of The Bounty enjoyed the watherm the food and the hospitality they gained there from the natives of Tahiti.

They actually slowed down their work on preparing the ship so they could stay longer. Bligh 's patience wore thin with this. He finally set a date and the ship set sail. Shortly after leaving, The mutineers struck, set Bligh adrift and then returned to Tahiti.

The reason the Bounty sailed from England to Tahiti was to obtain Breadfruit seedlings to be transported to British Colonies in the Carribbean. This plant produced a lush and tasty fruit that was quite popular and The British wanted to be able to grow BreadFruit plants in their possessions in the Caribbean.

Captain Bligh and his loyalists actually survived their ordeal. Bligh, a superb sailor,navigated his small vessel over an expanse of 3,608 miles to reach Timor, then a Dutch possession in the Pacific.Bligh eventually got back to England and the British hunted down the Bounty Mutineers.

 The search for Breadfruit and the lure of the Island it was cultivated on are a central reason why the Bounty Mutiny occurred.

- Johnny-