18. Bligh discovered pilferage of food while at Restoration Island
When Bligh readied the launch for sea after a day on Restoration Island, he discovered that one of the crew had been pilfering from the store of salt pork. After questioning each shipmate personally and individually, none of whom admitted to any knowledge of the missing pork, Bligh decided to use all that remained in that afternoon’s oyster stew. He so informed the crew, along with the information that they would resume their journey the following day. The next morning, May 31, Bligh inventoried the remaining stores in the boat. There were 38 days of bread remaining (at 1/25 of a pound), and 60 gallons of water. When the crew assembled, they brought aboard with them a few oysters.
As Bligh was getting the men into the boat, “twenty natives appeared, running and holloaing to us, on the opposite shore. They were armed with a spear or lance, and a short weapon which they carried in their left hand: they made signs for us to come to them”. Any arguments against leaving the island were dropped quickly, and the launch got underway, the men pulling the oars with renewed strength while others rigged the lugsails. As promised by Bligh, they stopped at several more islands to renew their dwindling strength before again braving the open sea on the final leg to Timor.
