3. Bligh speculated over the causes of the mutiny as they rowed to Tofua
Among the items rescued by Samuel during the mutiny were some – but by no means all – of Captain Bligh’s personal papers and journals. Their presence allowed Bligh to keep a journal of the voyage of the launch, as well as the circumstances surrounding the mutiny. Bligh recorded his thoughts regarding the mutiny, the mutineers, and its possible causes in his journal as the launch approached Tofua. He blamed the extended stay at Tahiti as the chief cause, an island where, “they need not labour, and where the allurements of dissipation are beyond any thing that can be conceived.” He speculated that had he a detachment of Royal Marines the mutiny could likely be prevented.
Bligh was unknown at Tofua (he was familiar with other islands of its group), though well known to King Poulaho at Tongatabu. He decided to stop at Tofua, obtain additional supplies of water and breadfruit, and journey to the latter island. Breadfruit had to be cooked before consumption, accomplished by baking it in wetted banana leaves or simply roasting it in an open fire. The requirement meant a longer stay on the island, as well as the need to build a fire, likely detected by natives. On previous visits to the Friendly and Society Islands, Bligh was told of islands to the west inhabited by cannibals, the Fiji Islands. Tofua was not one of the Fiji Islands, but its inhabitants were unknown to Bligh, and he hoped to avoid an encounter with them.