In this time-honored classic, William Bligh offers his vivid account of a routine voyage to Tahiti that turned into the world's most famous mutiny — and a perilous struggle for survival.

Cast out from their ship by Fletcher Christian and his rebel band, William Bligh and eighteen seamen were forced to journey thousands of miles to the nearest port in a small open boat, with inadequate supplies and without a compass or charts. This time-honored classic, written in 1790, is Bligh's personal account of an extraordinary feat of seamanship, in which he used a sextant, a pocket watch, and his own iron will to direct an ill-equipped vessel and crew to safety across nearly 4,000 miles of rolling sea.Bligh's memoir also recounts the events of a routine voyage of scientific exploration to Tahiti that achieved legendary status when it erupted into the world's most famous mutiny. The captain's narrative offers a marked contrast to the familiar tale of film and fiction. Anyone who thrilled to the Bounty movies, along with all lovers of maritime adventure, will be captivated by this story of daring and perseverance.

Author's AdvertisementI. Plan of The Expedition--Outfit, and Occurences to the Time of Leaving England--Description of the Bread-fruitII. Departure from England--Arrival at Teneriffe--Sail from Thence--Arrival Off Cape Horn--Severity of the Weather--Oblidged to Bear Away for the Cape of Good HopeIII. Passage Towards the Cape of Good Hope, and Search After Tristan da Cunha--Arrival at False Bay--Occurrences There--Reports Concerning the Grosvenor's People--Departure from the CapeIV. Passage Towards Van Diemen's Land--Make the Island of St. Paul--Arrival in Adventure Bay--Natives Seen--Sail from Van Diemen's LandV. Rocky Islands Discovered--See the Island Maitea, and Arrive at Otaheite--Ship Crowded by the NativesVI. Account of an English Ship Lately Sailed from Otaheite--Death of Omai--Captain Cook's Picture Sent on Board--Otoo Visits the Ship--His Visit Returned--Natives Well Disposed Towards Us--Account of the Cattle Left by Captain Cook--Bread-fruit Plants Promised--Visit to the Earee Rahie--Presents Made to the ArreoysVII. A Theft Committed--Deception of the Painted Head--Conversation With a Priest--A Wrestling Match--Reports of the Natives Concerning Other Isalnds--Some Account of OmaiVIII. Expedition to Tettaha After a Heifer--Extraordinary Domestic Arrangements--Tinah's Mother Visits the Ship--A Sheep Brought from Ulietea--Heavy Storm--Death of the Surgeon--Taowne and Toahroah Harbours ExaminedIX. A Walk Into the Country--The Peeah Roah--Prevailed On, by the Kindness of the Chiefs, to Deter Our Departure--Braed-fruit Plants Collected--Move the Ship to Toahroah Harbour--Fishing--Three of the Ship's Company Desert--Indiscretion of Our People on Shore--Instances of Jealousy--Mourning--Bull Brought to Oparre by a Prophet--The Deserters Recovered--Tinah Proposes to Visit EnglandX. The Ship's Cable Cut in the Night--Coolness with the Chiefs on That Account--Visit to an Old Lady--Disturbance at a Heiva--Tinah's Hospitality--A Thief Taken, and Punished--Preparations for SailingXI. Arrival of an Arreoy Woman from Tethuroa--A Present Delivered by Tinah for His Majesty--Other Occurrences to the Time of the Ship's Departure from OtaheiteXII. At the Island Huaheine--A Friend of Omai Visits the Ship--Leave the Society Islands--A Water-spout--The Island Whytootackee Discovered--Anchor in Annamooka Road--Our Parties on Shore Robbed by the Natives--Sail from Annamooka--The Chiefs Detained on Board--Part FriendlyXIII. A Mutiny in the ShipXIV. Proceed in the Launch to the Island Tofoa--Difficulty in Obtaining Supplies There--Treacherous Attack of the Natives--Escape to See, and Bear Away for New HollandXV. Passage Towards New Holland--Islands Discovered in Our Route--Our Great Distresses--See the Reefs of New Holland, and Find a Passage Through ThemXVI. Progress to the Northward, Along the Coast of New Holland--Land on Different Islands, in Search of SuppliesXVII. Passage from New Hollnad to the Island Timor--Arrive at Coupang--Reception ThereXVIII. At CoupangXIX. From Timor to BataviaXX. Occurrences at Batavia, and Passage Thence to EnglandIllustrations Route of the Bounty Plan and Section of Bounty