HMS Bounty – 1960 Reconstruction
This week marks the 231st anniversary of the mutiny on the Bounty in 1789. We all want to go there to see how close the actual event was to the various movies and books written about it. Of course, you will want to bring this list with you. Hopefully, it will prevent any mistakes that could put a tear in the time continuum. Hop on the time train and let’s go.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Mutiny on the Bounty in 1789.
10 If you are there, do not ask Lieutenant Bligh why he doesn’t have a captain’s rank. If you do, at best, he will be distracted. At worse, you will remind him that he took a significant cut in pay to take command of the Bounty. You see, Luke, Bligh was captain of the Britannia, a merchant’s vessel. He was earning £500 (about $95,000 US today) a year and was only paid £71 (about $12,000 US today) to command the Bounty. He took the assignment since it was better than being assigned to shore which would have meant a 50% pay cut. He also mentioned that you will enjoy meeting his cat with nine tails or something like that)
9 If you are there, do not ask Tiny the WWF champ if he would like to take your place in the longboat being launched with Bligh and his loyalists on board. If you do, at best, Tiny will think you are joking. At worst, Tiny, who just declared himself loyal to Fletcher Christian, will want to keep you quiet. (Tiny does not wish for his shipmates to question his loyalty, Logan. I think you are in for a brief flight that will end up with you in the water.)
8 If you are there, do not tell John Fryer, the sailing master, that he reminds you of Jack Sparrow. If you do, at best, he won’t hear you. At worst, John will want to know who Jack Sparrow is. (if you tell him Jack is a pirate in the movies, Lee you just know this won’t go well.)
7 If you are there, do not laugh out loud when you hear that the cargo is breadfruit trees. If you do, at best the crew will think you are odd. At worst, you will bring to light the folly of the original mission. (The breadfruit trees were to be transported to the West Indies from Tahiti. There they were to be planted, and their fruit used to feed slaves. Right now, a bunch of the crew seems to think you may know something, Landon. You don’t want to lead this mutiny.)
6 If you are there, do not criticize the crew for their handling of Bligh. If you do, at best they will think you a softy. At worst, they will think you are siding with Bligh. (It looks like you are going to join the other 19 in the launch, Louis. I think I would try to talk them out of putting you in there since your presence might be the one too many that will tip the boat in a rough sea. The 19 have it dangerously overloaded as it is.)
5 If you are there, do not argue with the mutineers about weather to head for Tahiti or Pitcairn island to hide out. If you do, at best they will think you are joking. At worst, you will be considered a pain and be given another choice. (You see, Leon it was decided to let those off in Tahiti who wanted to be there and the rest to proceed to try and find Pitcairn island which was discovered in 1765 but never documented as to its exact location. So each man has a choice of where to be. Looks like your third choice is to wear a sounding plummet (weight) around your neck when you take a walk on water.)
4 If you are there and decide to stay on till Pitcairn island, do not ask any of the 14 Tahitian women kidnapped by Christian can go out on a date with you. If you do, at best, they will think you are drunk. At worst, the 6 Tahitian men and eight mutineers who have a relationship with them may take offense. (Nothing like hitting on the girlfriend of Fletcher Christian Lewis. I hear he is looking for you, and he is carrying two cutlasses. I’ll bet one is for you.)
3 If you are there, do not tell the mutineers what you know about how those on Tahiti turned out. If you do, at best they won’t believe you. At worst, they will think you are an agent of the crown. (You see Leonardo, all 14 of the mutineers were captured and place on the prison ship Pandora. The ship ran aground, and four of the mutineers drowned. The remaining ten were transported bound hand and foot to England for trial. Looks like they want to see you swim to England.)
2 If you are there, also do not tell those on Pitcairn Island how they turned out. If you do, at best, they will think you are telling a fictional story. At worse, they will think you are a sorcerer. (All but two of the mutineers (including Fletcher Christian) were killed. The last two; Young and Adams, took care of the women and 19 children until Young died in 1800 and Adams in 1829. Descendants of the mutineers still live there. You think anyone will believe that, Lamar?)
1 If you are there, do not tell the mutineers how Bligh turned out. If you do, at best no one will care. At worst, they will think you are telling a cruel joke. (Bligh went on to serve as captain of more English ships, and Bligh was promoted to rear-admiral in 1811 and Vice-Admiral in 1814. The good news for the mutineers would be he was not offered further naval appointments after being appointed to Vice-Admiral. Let’s hope the good news allows you to keep your head, Lane.)
Fiction Favorites 
SIX! SOFTY! ♥♥♥
1
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Hahahaha. Thank you, Billy Ray.
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I don’t think I’d do well attending this event. I have a hard time not laughing when I’m not supposed to. No doubt, I’d be cast overboard. Great job, John. Happy Monday!
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I think it would be fun to laugh along with the mutiny. Would be different and you are right. Overboard we go. Ho,ho,ho. Have a great Monday, Jill. Thanks. 😁
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I can’t remember the story of the Bounty, John. I am quickly going to look it up on Google. Very entertaining, as always.
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It is a good story, Robbie. Filled with adventure, lust, revenge, and all true.
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Very fun history lesson! (Nobody wants to be introduced to the cat with nine tails.)
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Meow. *whiplash* Ow.
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Ha! Ha! Ha! Good one!
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😁
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I confess, the only thing I remember of Mutiny on the Bounty is Marlon Brando and a few love scenes. The story eluded me, until this morning. Great job, John. 🙂
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That was a good version too. Thanks, Gwen. 😁
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And I though today’s cruises weren’t ending well. Good list, John. I see there’s no benefit in mutiny. I guess I’ll be back next week for another episode. Spellcheck just helped me realize that you can’t have mutiny without tiny.
Take care, John. I hope you have a great week.
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“No mutiny without Tiny.” I wish I had thought of that. Thanks, Dan.
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hahaha, if I go back to the Bounty, I’ll skip talking to Tiny and just jump in the ocean.to save him the trouble of throwing me into it!!!
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I think that might be the best plan. Don’t take that iron lifesaver he is offering either. Thanks, GP.
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hahahaha
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I liked the Mel Gibson version of the movie. Shows up on cable once in a while.
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I’m in for the 30’s version with Clark Gable and Charles Laughton. Thanks, Craig.
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I enjoyed that one too. There was even a rip-off concept called The Cain Mutiny that was pretty good. Bogart driving himself mad with those rattling balls was pretty good.
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Yeah, I liked that one too.
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This seems like a really dangerous one. I might just travel to when they filmed the movie instead.
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I think that is a good idea. Thanks, Charles.
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The men were killed fighting over the women. Twenty-five percent of the people on Pitcairn today have the surname “Christian.” And I reckon there are a lot of people named Adams as well. Great post.
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It is amazing what a little rivalry will do to men folk. Thanks for the comment.
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Terrific, Andrew. Thank you.
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I’d never make it. I can’t look at a ship like this and not think of Capt. Jack Sparrow.
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I can imagine. Thanks, Teri.
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Like Robbie, I don’t remember the story of this mutiny – sounds like Bligh made out alright in the end. I’m going to have to look it up. Thanks for the history lesson, John!
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Yes, Bligh did make it out okay in the end. There were a number of folks who didn’t care for him. He was also repremanded for his foul language toward his crew.
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I wonder how foul his language would be considered these days?
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Thanks for the list, John. This is a period in history I know very little about, so the likelihood of my making a HUGE mistake would be high. No way would I want to swim clear to England!!
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That would be a long swim, Debbie. I don’t thnk you shuls go on the trip. 😊
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I don’t think our governor would let me leave the state anyway!
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Best just to break into the grog and let things sort themselves out.
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#4 cracked me up! Great list, John, and another awesome history lesson!
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Now I want to rewatch the movie!
I was gonna say I’d have trouble being on either side… then again, as a woman, I’d not have been welcome aboard in the first place!
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So let me get this straight. There are no paper towels what so ever involved in this story ? And the dwarf feline is from another story altogether too ! Dwarf feline ? Oh Mew-tiny… now if I can just Keep Calm and avoid the keel hauling…
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I’ve watched the movie (with Marlon Brando) so many times. I love it. Not sure I want to go back to the ship though. I’d likely say the wrong thing and be dumped overboard.
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This is my husbands favorite story. This is one I want to reread some day.
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This event is definitely not for me, John. I would have opened my mouth once too many and would have to walk the plank.
Ha, ha!
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One of my favorite books of all time! Laugh out loud funny as always, John.
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The cat and nine tails thing always creeped me out. I almost named my cat nine tails, but the humorous significance of it would have been lost on most peeps.
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I think you did well by avoiding that moniker, Pilgrim. I could see you explaining your cleverness to the buba next door.
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Hahahaha! Yeah . . no. 🙂
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😀
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1. Or that he was governor of Australia.
I never have seen any of the films. You like the Brandi one the best?
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Brando
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I got there. Thanks, Eilene
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Bligh was governor of Australia until he was overthrown and arrested by the militry.
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Such a delightful man.
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Yes. He was a terrific actor.
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I like the Charles Laughton version of Bligh.
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I met a real-life Bligh once. He was a customer, and his daughter became a friend. Everyone called him Bligh: daughter, son, grandson. His daughter-in-law refused to sail with him after a particularly nasty encounter at sea.The funny thing was, everyone called him ‘Bligh’ to his face, and eventually I did, too. There are stories too long for here, but maybe some day we’ll share a grog and I’ll pull them out. He knew his sailing, that’s for sure — he was a long-time racer and cruiser, mostly open ocean stuff.
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i would love to hear some of those stories. Thaks. Linda.
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Despite all that…above 🙂 I’d like to be THERE 😂
I need a time machine now 🙁
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I think it would have been a great adventure. Yes, you do need a time machine. We all need a time machine. Thanks, Victoria Ray. 😁
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🧁🧁☀️☀️
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Great list John! I’ve only watched part of the Brando version and I skipped this book for something else. It certainly sounds like it was an adventure on the high seas! I’ll have to read the book one of these days.
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It is an amazing story. I don’t think a fiction writer could have done better. Thanks, Deborah.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out another great top ten list from this post on John Howell’s blog. This one is the TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO DO AT THE MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY IN 1789
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Thank you, Don.
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You’re welcome.
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I would love to witness this event, but as a bird flying high above. 🙂
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I’m with you, Mark. 😁
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What an interesting instruction, dear John! Thank you! This historical event should be re-memorized. 🙂
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Thank you, Maria.
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The details are as good as the Top Ten. This was one interesting story! I would probably have opted for Tahiti. Did Tiny stay?
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Tiny left with Bligh. He is the only reason they made it. Thanks, Jennie.
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Haha! You’re welcome, John
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