Editing Mutiny on the Bounty (section)

=== Tahiti ===
[[File:William Hodges - Tahitian War Galleys in Matavai Bay, Tahiti - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|[[Matavai Bay]] in [[Tahiti]], depicted in a 1776 painting by [[William Hodges]]]]

Bligh's first action on arrival was to secure the co-operation of the local chieftains, as well as the King of Tahiti, [[Pōmare I]]. The paramount chief Tynah remembered Bligh from Cook's voyage fifteen years previously and greeted him warmly. Bligh presented the chiefs with gifts and informed them that their own [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George]] wished in return only breadfruit plants. They happily agreed with this simple request.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=105–107}} Bligh assigned Christian to lead a shore party charged with establishing a compound in which the plants would be nurtured.{{sfn|Hough|1972|p=115}}

Whether based ashore or on board, the men's duties during ''Bounty''{{'}}s five-month stay in Tahiti were relatively light. Many led [[promiscuity|promiscuous]] lives among the native women—altogether, eighteen officers and men, including Christian, received treatment for venereal infections{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=122–125}}—while others took regular partners.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|p=112}} Christian formed a close relationship with a Polynesian woman named [[Mauatua]], to whom he gave the name "Isabella" after a former sweetheart from Cumberland.{{sfn|Guttridge|2006|p=26}} Bligh remained chaste himself,{{sfn|Guttridge|2006|p=24}} but was tolerant of his men's activities, unsurprised that they should succumb to temptation when "the allurements of dissipation are beyond any thing that can be conceived".{{sfn|Bligh|1792|p=162}} Nevertheless, he expected them to do their duty efficiently, and was disappointed to find increasing instances of neglect and slackness on the part of his officers. Infuriated, he wrote: "Such neglectful and worthless petty officers I believe were never in a ship such as are in this."{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=122–125}}

Huggan died on 10 December. Bligh attributed this to "the effects of intemperance and indolence&nbsp;... he never would be prevailed on to take half a dozen turns upon deck at a time, through the whole course of the voyage".{{sfn|Bligh|1792|p=102}} For all his earlier favoured status, Christian did not escape Bligh's wrath. He was often humiliated by the captain—sometimes in front of the crew and the Tahitians—for real or imagined slackness,{{sfn|Hough|1972|pp=122–125}} while severe punishments were handed out to men whose carelessness had led to the loss or theft of equipment. Floggings, rarely administered during the outward voyage, now became increasingly common.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=115–120}} On 5 January 1789 three members of the crew—[[Charles Churchill (mutineer)|Charles Churchill]], [[William Muspratt]] and John Millward—[[desertion|deserted]], taking a small boat, arms and ammunition. Muspratt had recently been flogged for neglect. Among the belongings Churchill left on the ship was a list of names that Bligh interpreted as possible accomplices in a desertion plot—the captain later asserted that the names included those of Christian and Heywood. Bligh was persuaded that his protégé was not planning to desert, and the matter was dropped. Churchill, Millward and Muspratt were found after three weeks and, on their return to the ship, were flogged.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=115–120}}

From February onwards, the pace of work increased; more than 1,000 breadfruit plants were potted and carried into the ship, where they filled the great cabin.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=124–125}} The ship was overhauled for the long homeward voyage, in many cases by men who regretted the forthcoming departure and loss of their easy life with the Tahitians. Bligh was impatient to be away, but as [[Richard Hough]] observes in his account, he "failed to anticipate how his company would react to the severity and austerity of life at sea&nbsp;... after five dissolute, [[hedonism|hedonistic]] months at Tahiti".{{sfn|Hough|1972|p=128}} The work was done by 1 April 1789, and four days later, after an affectionate farewell from Tynah and his queen, ''Bounty'' left the harbour.{{sfn|Alexander|2003|pp=124–125}}