Editing Mutiny on the Bounty (section)

=== Cape to Pacific ===
On 24 May 1788, ''Bounty'' anchored in [[False Bay]], east of the [[Cape of Good Hope]], where five weeks were spent in repairs and reprovisioning.{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=95–96}} Bligh's log emphasised how fit and well he and his crew were, by comparison with other vessels, and expressed hope that he would receive credit for this.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=92–94}} At one stage during the sojourn, Bligh lent money to Christian, a gesture that the historian Greg Dening suggests might have sullied their relationship by becoming a source of anxiety and even resentment to the younger man.{{sfn|Dening|1992|p=69}} In her account of the voyage, [[Caroline Alexander (author)|Caroline Alexander]] describes the loan as "a significant act of friendship", but one which Bligh ensured Christian did not forget.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=92–94}}

After leaving False Bay on 1 July, ''Bounty'' set out across the southern Indian Ocean on the long voyage to their next port of call, [[Adventure Bay, Tasmania|Adventure Bay]] in [[Van Diemen's Land]] (now called [[Tasmania]]). They passed the remote [[Île Saint-Paul]], a small uninhabited island which Bligh knew from earlier navigators contained fresh water and a hot spring, but he did not attempt a landing. The weather was cold and wintry, conditions akin to the vicinity of Cape Horn, and it was difficult to take navigational observations, but Bligh's skill was such that on 19 August he sighted [[Mewstone|Mewstone Rock]], on the south-west corner of Van Diemen's Land and, two days later, made anchorage in Adventure Bay.{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=97–99}}

The ''Bounty'' party spent their time at Adventure Bay in recuperation, fishing, replenishment of water casks, and felling timber. There were peaceful encounters with the native population.{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=97–99}} The first sign of overt discord between Bligh and his officers occurred when the captain exchanged angry words with the carpenter, William Purcell, over the latter's methods for cutting wood.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=97–98}}{{#tag:ref|Suggestions that Bligh was an exceptionally harsh commander are not borne out by evidence. His violence was more verbal than physical;{{sfn|Frost|2004}} as a captain, his overall flogging rate of less than one in ten seamen was exceptionally low for the time.{{sfn|Dening|1992|p=127}} He was known for shortness of temper and sharpness of tongue, but his rages were generally directed at his officers, particularly when he perceived incompetence or [[dereliction of duty]].{{sfn|Dening|1992|p=127}} |group="n"|name="carpenter"}} Bligh ordered Purcell back to the ship and, when the carpenter stood his ground, Bligh withheld his rations, which "immediately brought him to his senses", according to Bligh.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=97–98}}

Further clashes occurred on the final leg of the journey to Tahiti. On 9 October, Fryer refused to sign the ship's account books unless Bligh provided him with a certificate attesting to his complete competence throughout the voyage. Bligh would not be coerced. He summoned the crew and read the [[Articles of War]], at which Fryer backed down.{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=100–101}} There was also trouble with the surgeon Huggan, whose careless [[blood-letting]] of able seaman James Valentine while treating him for [[asthma]] led to the seaman's death from a [[blood infection]].{{sfn|Wahlroos|1989|pp=297–298}} To cover his error, Huggan reported to Bligh that Valentine had died from [[scurvy]],{{sfn|Dening|1992|p=71}} which led Bligh to apply his own medicinal and dietary [[antiscorbutic]] remedies to the entire ship's company.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=101–103}} By now, Huggan was almost incapacitated with drink, until Bligh confiscated his supply. Huggan briefly returned to duty; before ''Bounty''{{'}}s arrival in Tahiti, he examined all on board for signs of [[venereal disease]] and found none.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=103–104}} ''Bounty'' came to anchor in [[Matavai Bay]], Tahiti, on 26 October 1788, concluding a journey of {{convert|27086|nmi}}.{{sfn|McKinney|1999|p=47}}{{clarify|date=February 2024}}