Further clashes occur on the final leg…
October 1788 CE
On October 9, Fryer refuses to sign the ship's account books unless Bligh provides him with a certificate attesting to his complete competence throughout the voyage.
Bligh will not be coerced.
He summons the crew and reads the Articles of War, at which Fryer backs down.
There is also trouble with the surgeon Huggan, whose careless blood-letting of able seaman James Valentine while treating him for asthma leads to the seaman's death from a blood infection.
To cover his error, the surgeon reports to Bligh that Valentine had died from scurvy, which leads Bligh to apply his own medicinal and dietary antiscorbutic remedies to the entire ship's company.
By now, Huggan is almost incapacitated with drink, until Bligh confiscates his supply.
Huggan briefly returns to duty; before Bounty's arrival in Tahiti, he examines all on board for signs of venereal disease and finds none.
Bounty comes to anchor in Matavai Bay, Tahiti on October 26, 1788, concluding a journey of 27,086 nautical miles (50,163 kilometers; 31,170 miles).
Bligh's first action on arrival is to secure the co-operation of the local chieftains.
The paramount chief Tynah remembers Bligh from Cook's voyage fifteen years previously, and greets him warmly.
Bligh presents the chiefs with gifts and informs them that their own "King George" wishes in return only breadfruit plants.
They happily agree with this simple request.
Bligh assigns Christian to lead a shore party charged with establishing a compound in which the plants will be nurtured.