Sep 16, 1789 Home Resource Sep 18, 1789
Revised May 24 2021
| H | K | F | Winds | Remarks Thursday 17th Sept'r. 1789 in Sourabya Road |
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| 1 | ESE | Fresh Breezes and Hazy Wr. | ||
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| 8 | " | " | SEbE | Fresh Gales |
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| 11 | Bearings at Anchor. Crissey Flag Staff W¼S ½ Cables length Distant, in 1½ fms. East point road SbE½E. East part of Madura EbS½W. Found a large Indiaman here peirced for 60 Guns called the Holland from Banda and several Brigs and other Vessels. | |||
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| 4 | Lat'de. Obs'd. by Mr. Hayward 7°..9′ South Long'de by Account 108..23 Et. Long'de made 13..28 | |||
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| 8 | Rec'd. a Bullock, killed the One rec'd. on the 15th and servd fresh meat | |||
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| 10 | " | " | Et. | At this time I returned on Board accompanied with the Commandant des Troupes and Master Attendant who after taking their leave I saild. Three Guarda Costas in Comp'y. Master on board One, and the Carpenter on board another. |
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| 12 | " | " | EbN | At Noon. Came too off Crissey pier. I went on Shore |
Having arrived at this place I found it necessary to ask farther assistance for a pilot to carry me to Batavia and as I might get some refreshments (having it not in my power to take a large quantity at a time) it was a farther inducement to me for I had now four Men ill. I therefore Anchord in this Road as pr Log.
On the following morning I landed and was received in a most friendly manner by the Governor (or Opperhooft) Mr. Anthony Barkay who shewed every politeness and attention to the Commission I bore, attended with a peculiar civility which demand my public acknowledgement.
His information and advise equally led me to determine to wait until this day (Wednesday PM) because in the first instance the Coast was not free of Piratical Vessels of force and that in the second a pilot would be necessary to expedite my Voyage as well as to know these Enemies when they approached, besides a Vessel was to sail with whom I might keep Company.
In this interval I lived with Mr. Barkay and a Mr. de Bose the Commandant des Troupes who also became equally interested for my safe arrival in Europe & who has also a just right to my particular thanks.
I now took my leave of these Gentlemen and several others who had done me the honor to show me every politeness and attention but Mr. de Bose and the Master Attendant would accompany me on board in a Commodious Boat which they had ordered to be ready for that purpose. I therefore ordered my own off to the Vessel with a small Bullock some poultry and Vegetables which Mr. Barkay had sent to me as a Sea store.
The Boat Crew were – Wm. Peckover Gunner, Wm. Purcell Carpenter, Wm. Elphinston Masters Mate, Wm. Cole Boatswain, Jno. Hallet Mid., Thos. Hayward Mid, and Peter Linkletter Ab. Mr. Hayward put them in Mind of their disobeydeance of orders and threatened to take the Boat off without them. They abused him and called him a Lackay because he would not do as they did.
Soon after I got on board the Boat came off and I directed the Anchor to be taken up and the Commandant with the Master Attendant took their leave.
They had scarce got to the Shore when I heard some of my people complain that there was some one below that would not work and upon enquiry I found Wm. Elphinston Mate and John Hallet Midshipman were those that were murmmered at. They were both beastly drunk. I therefore asked the Master what was the Cause of his carrying on duty in such a manner and the reason why he did not see these Officers on deck, when he most instantly answer'd I dont know.
Ques'n. Are they drunk or Ill or what is the matter with them?
Ans'r. Am I a Doctor? ask him what is the matter with them
Ques'n. What do you mean by this insolence?
Ans'r. It is no insolence — you not only use me Ill but every Man in the Vessel and every Man will say the same.
A muttering now began among those who had hold of the Cable. Yes by God we are used damned Ill nor have we any right to be used so, was a cry among some of them. The Carpenter now became Spokesman and with a daring and Villainous look uttered the above expressions who with the Masters Sneers and provocation in supporting their cause, by saying I had used him Ill and every body on Board made an open tumult. (The Complaint was that they had paid for the carriage of some things to the Boat. This since appeared to be four doits equal to one penny. The cause was that the opperhooft had sent me Vegetables and other things by his Slaves to be carried to the Boat, but meeting with these people at the House they were drinking at they detained the things there and the Slaves returned to their Master of course it rested with themselves to get the things to the Boat, which it appears they paid a penny for.) I therefore seized a Bayonet and instantly put the Master and Carpenter below and then hailed the Commandant to return which he did.
I now turned every one before him, but before any questions were asked he with the Master Attendant Mr. Bonza told me that they believed, I had some Villains about me who I did not suspect for that in their way to the Shore their Coxwain had told them, My Officers & Men had spread a report that I should be hanged or blown from the Mouth of a Cannon as soon as I got home. Alarmed at such a disgraceful account, I desired that every one might be asked if he had said it and the person who had told the Coxwain of it had come on board with my Mutinous Fellows so it fortunately happened that the parties were face to face.
The Commandant now insisted on this person to point out those who had told him, and he fixed on Wm. Purcell (Carpenter) accusing generally the whole. It happened that as the few common Men I had were Sick, the Boats Crew consisted of Officers, among whom were Thomas Hayward Midshipman. This Young Gentleman having not heard of the Villainous expression, and shocked at such a degree of infamy in the guilt of which he was from the account equally involved with the others, flew into my Arms beseeching me that I would not believe he could be possibly guilty of such infamy and ingratitude, and after shedding a torrent of Tears, dared any One to assert he was guilty of any such Baseness or in the least degree privy to it alledging at the same time that he never but when he was obliged, had any conversation with any One on board for he beleived they had not good principals. the Honor and integrity of this Young Man made the Wretches about him tremble and having gained my good wishes his grief subsided.
These disgracefull things having past on Shore and my character and Honor at stake in a Country from whence I could only receive assistance to return to England. I desired the Commandant to make inquiry who had any complaints to make against me, and I laid my injunctions with orders that those who had were to go into the Boat to lay such charges before the Governor.
Thomas Denman Ledward acting Surgeon John Hellet Midshipman and William Cole Boatswain now presented themselves and went into the Boat the others having denied that they had anything to say against me
I now ordered the Master and Carpenter into the Boat as prisoners & with the others we returned to the Shore, for I now no longer found my Honor or person safe among these people, besides it became absolutely necessary to convict those fellows where they had presumed to traduce the character of their Commander
On my arrival on shore I wrote to the Governor Mr. Ba[rka]y the following Letter or rather Certificate to Authorise him to enquire into the cause of this Tumult &c. &c.
This is to Certify that I have sollicited (in the name of the King of Great Britain) the premier of this place to cause to be detained under an Arrest and from hence to be immediately sent to Batavia and there to be ready to embark with me on my arrival for Europe, two Officers under the Names of John Fryer Master and Wm. Purcell Carpenter who have acted tumultuously on board his Britannick Majestys Schooner Resource.
Also to cause three others, Thomas Ledward acting Surgeon, John Hallet Midshipman and Wm. Cole Boatswain to be brought on shore and examined they having declared that they could witness against their Commander, who on that account as a British Officer to prove his honor request that a publick enquiry may be made
To Mr. Anthony Barkay
Opperhoofd at Sourabya
A Court was ordered in the Morning to enquire into the Busyness and at my request they were all seperately confined. The Master and Carpenter as Prisoners for tryal when I arrived in Europe but the others to hear their Complaints. Mr. Barkay also ordered four Prows to be got ready to guard me round to Samarang as I lost the Advantage of Sailing with the Ship.
This Morning came on the Examination of Cole, Hallet and Ledward, before the Commandant des Troupes, His Brother a Captain and the Master Attendant when the following questions were put to John Hallet Midship'n.
Q. Have you any thing to say against your Captain
A. He beat me once at Otahiete
Q. For what reason
A. Because I was not got into the Boat.
Q. Why did not you go into the Boat?
A. The Water was too deep
Q. Have you no other complaint against your Captain?
A. None.
Q. Have you received your provisions & every thing that is allowed you?
A. Yes except that since the 3rd Sept'r. 1789 I have not rec'd. all my Arrack, but that the Captain told the Clerk I should have double for when I got to Batavia
Q. Why did you then say to an English Sailor now in the service of Holland at this place, that it would not go well with your Captain when he returned to England he having ill treated every person under his Command for which reason he would be tied to the mouth of a Cannon & fired into the Air?
A. I do not know that I said any such thing and if I did utter such an expression, I was drunk when I did it. And I most humbly ask your forgiveness for it, and beg that I may have leave to return to England with you
Q. Do you not think the Captain has done his duty in every respect to your knowledge?
A. Yes.
Q. Is he brutal or severe so as to give you cause of Complaints?
A. No.
Q. Has he not to your knowledge taken every pains to preserve his Ships Company?
A. Yes.
Q. Was it possible for him to have retaken his Ship or could he have done more than he did?
A. I think not.
Qus'n. Have you anything to say against your Captain
A. I have nothing to say against my Captain only the first time the Boat went on Shore I ask'd leave to go with him & was refused until he came on board again.
Q. Have you received your provisions and every other thing allowed you?
A. Yes
Questions by the Captain
Q. Have I behaved brutal or severe so as to give cause of complaint?
A. No
Q. Have not I taken every pains to preserve my Ships Company?
A. Yes in a very great degree
Q. Was it possible for me to have retaken the Ship or could I have done more than I did—
A. No certainly not.
Q. Have you any thing to say against your Captain?
A. I alledge no particular complaint against you God forbid
Q. Have you received your provisions and every thing allowed you?
A. Yes I have
Questions by the Captain—
Q. Have I behaved brutal or severe so as to give cause of complaint
A. No
Q. Do you think I have done my duty as an able Officer in every respect.
A. Yes I do
Q. Was it possible for me to have retaken the Ship or could I have done more than I did
A. No
Q. Do you not think I have done every thing to preserve the Health of the People and Officers
A. Yes you certainly have
Q. Do you think that by any means I could have prevented the Ships being taken from me
A. No I do not think it was possible
To each of these declarations the Commandant des Troupes & Master Attendant have certified to the truth of the proceedings — see Original papers
The examination being over I dismissed these wretches and ordered them on Board.
This afternoon the Commandant told me that the Master who was in confinement had been showing a paper and had shown it to him brought from Timor signed by the Opperhooft Wm. Adriaan Van Este signifying the prices of Provisions and other things I bought there for His Majestys Service for which I had made extravagant charges to Government as this paper would prove and that I would be roughly handled for it on my return to England. Also that I had given my Ships Company short allowance of Yams and therefore had taken away the Ship.
I had nothing more to do to show the Villainy of this Man and the improper and unwarrantable conduct of Van Este in laying a plot with an i[n]ferior Officer to entrap his Commander, than to show my papers in which were receipts and vouchers for all my transactions in Timor Signed by the Master and Boatswain and Witness'd by two respectable Residenters.
The Carpenter asserted also that the cause of the Ship being taken was owing to my stoping provisions. The Villainy of these reports very readily proves itself. For as to stoppage of Provisions or giving short allowance had it been so was no gains to me as for all such stoppages, Every Seaman receives money for it on their return to England. It however is sometimes necessary for the good of the Service and at this time I found it absolutely so to give ⅔ allowance of Bread because that article I was short of in proportion to other species of Provisions and I had to guard against a failure of making my passage through Endeavour Streights.
As to the Yams– It happened that on my Arrival at the Friendly Islands, our Stock of Plantains Flour and Yams was so far expended that only 1½ lbs were issued to each person for that day but the day following we had abundance of every thing & from my departure to the time of the Mutiny 2 lbs of Yams each day were served to every individual which is legal and sufficient for any Man whatever, but in all my Weights all dirt decayed parts and every thing not eatable was carefully thrown away - so that it was ever a principal with me that Weights should be real that my people might suffer no loss. Conscious therefore of my integrity these assertions gave me little concern and before Night I was by Letter from the Master solicited to forgive him and to take him on board again to which I made not reply. The letter was exactly as follows—
Sir
I understand by what the Commandant says that Matters can be settled. I wish to make every thing agreeable as far as lay in my power, that nothing might happen when we came home. As I have done every thing in my power as far I knows to do my duty & would still wish to do it, therefore if matters can be made up I beg you will forward it
Sir
I am Your most Obedient
Humble Servant
Jno. Fryer.
This Morning I gave directions for the Master to be sent on Board one of the prows and the Carpenter on board another. When I received a Message from the Master by the Commandant who he sent for beseeching him to prevail upon me to see him. On whose Account I returned for answer.
Sir
Having been informed by the Commandant of this place that you want to see me, I must inform you that being on the point of going on board and having many things to do I cannot possibly comply with your request. If you have any thing to communicate you must write to me on the Busyness and as you will go in a Vessel that will be also under my orders, you can at all times represent your situation.
I am Your Hble Serv't.
Wm. Bligh
In Answer to the Above
Sir
I have received yours saying that you cannot possibly find time to speak to me. I most humbly beg of you to grant me that favor if possible it can be done. I likewise beg of you to take me with you if you confine me in Irons. I will make every concession that you think proper
Sir I am Your Humble Servant
Jno. Fryer
In Company with the Commandant, Captain Bose, the Master Attendant and Mr. Samuels my Clerk, I saw the Master when like a Villain who had done every mischief he could and going to receive punnishment for it, he trembled look'd pale and humbly asked to be forgiven declaring he would make every concession & disavowed of the infamous report that he spread. That he would give every reparation I pleased to Ask, but I ordered him away on board telling him that he was to converse no other way with me but by Writing and that all his concessions & disavowals of what he had already asserted must be by Letter.
I now took my leave of the Governor who told me the Prows where [were] ready to obey my orders and with a pilot to conduct me to Samarang where I could get further Assistance to conduct me to Batavia which he said was necessary as the Coast was infested with Piratical Vessels from Borneo & other Islands.
I was accompanied on board with much politeness by the Commandant Mon'r. de Bose and Master Attendant where I found another small Bullock with many small things such as Butter, Cakes and Eggs and in short what was thought by Mr. Barkays family would be agreeable to me on my passage
It was however much more than I was in want of, but they felt so much for my late situation together with a natural hospitality that it appeared a peculiar pleasure to them to render me every Assistance.
Amidst the trouble I have had among the Mutinous pack of people about me it was not possible to make many Observations at this pretty Settlement of Sourabya. I however saw enough of it to say it is the pleasantest and most agreeable little Villiage I ever saw
It is situated about a Mile and half from the Water side close to a River which is navigable for Vessels of a Hundred Tons, or more, where the Banks on One side are raised and made convenient for Men or Cattle to track all Vessels up to the Town which is Garrisoned and very well fortified.
The Chinese Camp or Town is on the opposite side of the River and here those industrious people supply the Wants of the Europeans.
The Javans are numerous and their place of abode more towards the Country. Here are two Chiefs that live in great stile and pomp to whom I paid an Afternoons Visit in Company with Mr. Barkay & the Commandant. We were entertained with Coffee and Sweetmeats, in the course of which they gave us a Concert of Musick which had an agreeable wildness in it & harmonious altho a most peculiar contrast of Sounds. The Instruments where [were] two large Mettal pans (called Gongs) which are struck in the Center with a short stick covered with leather over the point, Two smaller ones, One Fiddle with two Strings, Two Wood Drums covered with Skin as in the South Sea a Stackade[?] Instrument and several others formed by large pipes of Bamboo about Two feet long joined together with metal plates suspended by a center over each of them which are struck by sticks and are semi tones to each other.
The Attendance of the principal Javans are numerous & they have vast Military order as well as domestick regulations. Their principal Weapon is a long pike, and a number of these pikemen are always attendant on the Chiefs. They are particularly fond of chewing the Beetle and the equipage in the use of this Article is costly and take a considerable pride in it.
The Javans are in general a fine formed set of people and agreeable countenances their Colour is a dark Olive but like most others in this Sea that depends in a great measure in the manner they expose themselves to the Sun. These people however have certainly heretofore been more emminent than any other Class of Indians we are acquainted with if we may regard some Images that have been found among them. There is no judging of the Antiquity of these things it is however certain they had them before they had any knowledge of Europeans, and the Dutch came among them in [blank] Some of these Images I saw at this place and they gave strong proofs of an ellegant & ingenious set of people. To give an Idea of them. It was a Woman about 4 feet ½ high. The Features were regular and handsome. The Hair roused about the face. The Body habitted in a Gown & petticoat with only the bosom bare upon which pendant from the Neck were several rows of Beads of different lengths with which if the figure had had but attitude would have bore the appearance of a more modern piece of Sculpture but for want of that, it resembled very much those antique representations of the Mother of a Family as may be seen as Monuments in some Old Church in England
The Country about Sourabya is very pleasant having a great extent of flat land and fine roads with a fertillity of Soil that can produce any thing. The Cultivation is very easy so that a Javan requires no more than One Bullock which they call a Karrabow & a plow to turn up all his Ground. These Annimals they take great care of & when they lead them to Water every Javan will wash & clean his Beast in the River which the Annimal receives with much seeming pleasure.
The interior parts of the Country are very Mountanious & are infested with a terrible breed of Tigers which among those parts make travelling very dangerous. I saw a very large One which was brought to the Chief here. His allowance of food was a live Dog every other day. Deer are frequently killed but the flesh is not so high flavored as in Cold Countries.
The Gardens produce every kind of Fruit & Vegetable so that of the Latter they are in want of little of what is in Europe. Potatoes are in very great perfection, but the Assparagus is very inferior to what it is in England.
The Breed of Horses of Java are small but very handsome & servicible so that for either Carrige or Saddle every Gentleman is amply provided and as the Roads are exceedinly good every one takes an Airing in the Morning & Evening as conducive to health. This agreeable place may however be considered the Mountpelier of the North side of Java.
This is a healthy & also a pleasant little spot. It is Governed by a Resident, a Mr. Anthony Swainker. It has a more convenient Road for Shipping than Surabya & has for the convenience of landing goods a long pier. The Town is Commanded by a small Fort, as my stay was only two hours it was not possible for me to find matter to enlarge on a discription of the Place. I was received very Politely by the Resident & Mr. Van Haaften.
Sep 16, 1789 Home Resource Sep 18, 1789