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morrison : tahiti, 1788 |
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Journal of James Morrison on the ‘Bounty´
and at Tahiti, bequeathed to the Public Library of N.S.W. by will of the
late Rev. A.G.K. L´Estrange, through the medium of Messrs Church,
Adams, Prior and Palmer, Solicitors, 11 Balford Rd, London, W.C.
Bligh made several visits to Tahiti, initially in August-September 1777,
as a member of Cook's crew on
the third expedition, 1776 to1780
Following the mutiny on the Bounty, Bligh was again dispatched to Tahiti
in 1791, this time successfully completing the mission.
Surfriding in Tahiti, using a damaged canoe, was reported in 1769 by
Joseph Banks on Cook's first Pacific voyage in the Endeavour.
See 1769 Joseph
Banks : Surf-riding in Tahiti.
On Cook's third pacific
voyage, William Anderson, Surgeon 'Resolution' reported canoe surfriding
in Tahiti, August-September 1777.
See
On one of Bligh's visits (1777 to 1791) he is reported to have observed Tahitian surfriders using rudimentary craft - their canoe paddles.
Bowker notes:
There is not the spape in this volume to include the entire log
for this period, so I have selected those parts which bear upon the ship's
mission and upon the mutiny to come; and I have included other items which
appear to be of particular general and nautical interest.
On the 20th we had heavy rains & a strong Gale of Wind from the N W which brought with it a heavy sea from that Quarter breaking so violently on the Dolphin Bank that the Surge run fairly over the Ship, and the Carpenter who ..
Page 21
was the evening before Confined to his Cabbin, was now released
to secure the Hatches.
Several things were washd overboard & had not the Cables
been very good the ship must have gone on shore.
Next day the Gale abated, but the surf run very high on the shore
so as to prevent landing either in Canoes or Boats.
However several of the Natives found the way off through it,
and brought bunches of Cocoa Nuts with them that were full as much as one
of us could haul up the side tho they had swam off with them through a
tremendous surf.
January, 1790.
On the 4th the Weather being fair, I set out to the Hills accompanied
by some of Poenos Men, & one who lived with myself Constantly, in quest
of timbers, and returned with several, the Poorow being plenty in the Mountains;
but Mostly at a Good distance as they always take the first at hand for
their own Use— these We sided as usual and laid them to dry, the Natives
Frequently assembled about us to see our work, and seemd much surprized
at our method of building, and always assisted willingly to haul the Trees
to hand, & hew off the rough; they are very dexterous at Spliting,
but as they have no Idea of working by rule, they could be of no use in
triming the Plank.
<...>
11th January 1790.
Page 114
Nor was the making of Plank less troublesome, having no Saws (except handsaws) the largest tree would afford no more then two thicknesses of Plank, Some of the trees Cut for that purpose measuring six feet round which took a deal of Labour to reduce into plank of Inch & a quarter with axes & adzes; and as we had but two Adzes we were forced to make the Small trade hatchets (such as are sold in London at gd. each) answer that purpose, by lashing them to handles after the manner of the Natives which answered our purpose very well.
Page 115
And here I may also observe that a deal of Labour might have been
saved by workmen, who understood their business, by trimming the Timber
in the Mountains, which would have made a Considerable Odds in the Weight,
but of this I was not a sufficient Judge, and was therefore obliged to
bring it home in the rough, and Trim it afterwards, however this appeard
but trifling in point of difficulty and was not Sufficient to make us abandon
our project.
When the Westerly Winds prevail they have a heavy surf Constantly running to a prodigious height on the Shore & this Affords excellent diversion and the part they Choose for their Sport is where the Surf breaks with Most Violence — when they go to this diversion they get peices of Board of any length with which they swim out to the back of the surf, when they Watch the rise of a surf somtimes a Mile from the shore & laying their Breast on the board, keep themselves poised on the Surf so as to come in on the top of it, with amazing rapidity watching the time that it breaks, when they turn with ...
Page 358
... great Activity and diving under the surge swim out again towing
their plank with them — at this diversion both Sexes are Excellent, and
some are so expert as to stand on their board till the Surf breaks — the
Children also take their sport in the smaller surfs and as Most learn to
swim as soon as walk few or no accidents happen from Drowning.
They resort to this sport in great Numbers and keep at it for
several Hours and as they often encounter each other in their passage out
and in they require the greatest Skill in swimming to keep from running
foul of each other — which they somtimes cannot avoid in which case both
are Violently dashd on shore where they are thrown neck & heels and
often find very Coarse landing, which however they take little Notice of
and recovering themselves regain their boards & return to their sport.
The Chiefs are in general best at this as well as all other Diversions,
nor are their Weomen behind hand at it.
Eddea is one of the Best among the Society Islands & able
to hold it with the Best of the Men Swimmers.
This Diversion took place during the time the Bounty lay in Maatavye
Bay when the Surf from the Dolphin Bank ran so high as to break over her,
and we were forced to secure the Hatches expecting the Ship to go on shore
evry Minute.
After they have been at this sport they always wash in the Fresh
Water, as they always do when they have ...
Page 359
... been out in their Canoes or have been wet with salt water.
They have also a diversion in Canoes, which they steer on the top of the Surf with Great dexterity, and can either turn them out before it breakes or land safe tho it Break ever so high.
| Image right:
The 'Bounty's anchorage at Matavia Bay, Tahiti 26th October to 24th December, 1788. (1) The Dolphin Bank is to the east of the anchorage.
As a result of two extreme surf events that threatened the safety of the ship, Bligh moved the Bounty north to Toaroah Harbour for the remainer of the visit, departing on Sunday 5th April 1789. |
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Journal of James Morrison on the ‘Bounty´
and at Tahiti,
bequeathed to the Public Library of N.S.W.
by will of the late Rev. A.G.K. L´Estrange,
through the medium of Messrs Church, Adams,
Prior and Palmer,
Solicitors, 11 Balford Rd, London, W.C.
| home | catalogue | history | references | appendix |