M utiny aftermath James Morrison’s Account of B the Mutiny on the OUNTY and the Island of Tahiti Edited by VANESSA SMITH and NICHOLAS THOMAS Mutiny and Aftermath M UTINY and A ftermath James Morrison’s Account of the Mutiny on the Bounty and the Island of Tahiti Edited by Vanessa Smith and Nicholas Thomas with the assistance of Maia Nuku University of Hawai‘i Press Honolulu © 2013 University of Hawai‘i Press All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America 18 17 16 15 14 13 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Morrison, James, 1763 or 4‒1807, author. [Journal of James Morrison] Mutiny and aftermath : James Morrison’s account of the mutiny on the Bounty and the island of Tahiti / edited by Vanessa Smith and Nicholas Thomas ; with the assistance of Maia Nuku. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8248-3676-4 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Bounty Mutiny, 1789. 2. Tahiti (French Polynesia : Island)—Discovery and exploration—English. 3. Morrison, James, 1763 or 4‒1807—Diaries. I. Smith, Vanessa (Vanessa Jane), editor. II. Thomas, Nicholas, editor. III. Title. DU20.M676 2013 910.9164'8—dc23 2013008415 University of Hawai‘i Press books are printed on acid-free paper and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Council on Library Resources. Designed by Josie Herr Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc. Contents List of Illustrations vii Preface xiii Acknowledgments xix Introduction 1 Part I. The Journal: Mutiny, Mutineers, Islanders 1. The Voyage and the Mutiny 25 2. The Occupation of Tubuai 56 3. Return to Tahiti 88 4. From Tahiti to England 121 Part II. The Account: The Island of Tahiti 5. The Tahitian World 157 6. Tahitian Society, History, and Culture 185 7. Arts, Rites, and Customs 220 Appendix I: Morrison’s Polynesian Words and Terms 269 Appendix II: Morrison’s People 275 Appendix III: Morrison’s Place-names 283 Appendix IV: Morrison’s Plants 285 Notes 287 Select Bibliography 321 Index 329 Illustrations 1. Track of the voyage of the Bounty xi 2. First page of James Morrison’s manuscript xiv 3. “The Breadfruit of Otahytey,” George Tobin, 1792 2 4. “Matavai Bay, Island Otahytey—Sunset,” George Tobin, 1792 36 5. Map of Tubuai 58 6. Whalebone and ivory necklace, Austral Islands 64 7. Whale ivory ear ornaments, Austral Islands 65 8. Parae, Tahiti 71 9. Pearlshell necklace, Tubuai, Austral Islands 78 10. Tahiri, flywhisk, Austral Islands 82 11. Tahiri, flywhisk (detail), Austral Islands 83 12. “On Matavai River, Island of Otahytey,” George Tobin, 1792 90 13. “Morai Point, at Oparrey, Island of Otahytey,” George Tobin, 1792 122 14. Tapa or barkcloth beater, Tahiti 167 15. Matau, fish hooks, and lures, Tahiti 175 16. Map of Tahiti showing political districts, groupings, and key sites. 186 17. Ti’i, carved double figure, Tahiti 197 18. “The Morai at Oparrey, Island of Otahytey—Looking towards Matavai,” George Tobin, 1792 199 19. To’o, god image, Tahiti 201 viii ILLUSTRATIONS 20. Taumi, feather gorget, Tahiti 205 21. Headrest, Tahiti 221 22. “A double Canoe with the Eotooa (God) and provisions on the prow—Island of Otahytey,” George Tobin, 1792 224 23. Breadfruit splitter, Tahiti 234 24. Penu, pounder, Tahiti 235 25. Tamau, braided human hair, Tahiti 245 26. Pahu, drum, Tahiti 252 27. “A Toopapow, with the Corpse on it—Island of Otahytey,” George Tobin, 1792 259 Mutiny and Aftermath