Beyond the Mutiny on the Bounty, the founding of Pitcairn Island | Entangled histories

Since the 1790s, a version of the story of ‘The Mutiny on the Bounty’ has remained in the public conscience. A story of 9 British mutineers aboard the HMS ‘Bounty’, sailing off to an uninhabited island to avoid being court-martialled back in England.
In the 1700s it took the newspapers by storm. Since the 1830s, it has been the subject of countless books. In the 1900s, it was the subject of five feature films. However, this told (and retold) story isn’t even the half of it.
So here to right that is Dr Pauline Reynolds, historian and barkcloth maker. Pauline has been looking beyond the mutineers, to the 13 Polynesian women who set sail aboard the HMS ‘Bounty’. Through her research of tapa (barkcloth), Pauline will share with you the untold story of her tupuna vahine (ancestors), the women of Hitiaurevareva, Pitcairn Island.
Tell us what you thought of this video: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NFCZ3JG
Intro 00:04
The women who travelled on HMS Bounty 00:45
The true story of Mutiny on the Bounty 1:10
Why HMS Bounty went to Tahiti 2:47
Dr Pauline Reynolds' research into tapa barkcloth 5:20
Tapa of Mauatua, British Museum 6:21
How tapa barkcloth is made 8:27
Names of each side of a tapa barkcloth beater 11:43
Tiputa poncho from Hitiaurevareva (Pitcairn Island) 12:27
How a tiputa poncho is worn 12:51
Tracing the maker of a tapa piece 14:07
The legacy of the women of Hitiaurevareva (Pitcairn Island) 15:32
'Mauatua e' by Dr Pauline Reynolds 16:24
Featured works:
‘A View of Matavai Bay in the Island of Otaheite’, 1776
By William Hodges (1744-1797)
Oil painting
Yale Center for British Art
‘The Mutineers turning Lt Bligh and part of the Officers and Crew adrift from His Majesty’s Ship the Bounty’, 1790
By Robert Dodd (1748-1815)
Print
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
‘House of John Adams, Pitcairn Island’, about 1825
By Frederick Williams Beechey (1796-1856)
Drawing; pencil and watercolour
National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an2890321
Film excerpt from:
'Hina’s Granddaughters'
Sue Pearson - creative director, artwork, photography, sound, aute
Dr Pauline Reynolds - lyrics, music composition
Mike Bridgman - editing and animation
Ruby Clark - representation/embodiment of poem characters
Mauatua Fa’ara-Reynolds - vocalist and embodiment of Hina
This audio-visual artwork is part of a travelling exhibition by Pearson and Reynolds called Hina Sings ...

[@britishmuseum]

Yep this is a reupload. There was a very artsy (but not in the right way) doubling up of audio at 5 mins. Otherwise it's the same. Thanks to the couple of people who jumped on it and commented to let us know within minutes of it going live. Look after yourselves (and always check the final export, even if it's version 8....).

[@AnotherOak]

you are most welcome. thank you for reuploading. We appreciate you.

[@juandiegobocanegracruz3116]

Retunr the moai

[@pattheplanter]

3:50 - I thought Bligh was asking to take the breadfruit plants as well. He wasn't really a begging for mercy kind of guy. Bligh did succeed in getting the breadfruit on a second voyage. However, the only reason the breadfruit survived and were eventually grown into mature trees on Jamaica was because they had brought a Tahitian expert called Pappo to help the First Gardener James Wiles.

[@jimmyzbike]

Amazing. What a story is found when we look and listen

[@mattmcdonnellart]

Fascinating. A remarkable detail to a tale we may have thought there was nothing new to learn about. Thank you for sharing this and posting it.

[@scottzema3103]

Fascinating.

[@agerven]

So wonderful! i've heard of Thomas Cook and of Joseph Banks the famous botanist. i've heard of their discovery and visit to Tahiti. i've heard of Captain Bligh and the Mutany on the Bounty. i don't remember having heard of Pitcairn Island, John Adams, the lady Mauatua, nor of Dr. Pauline Reynolds, nor of curator Mrs. Julie Adams. And now you two, by a presentation of the British Museum, bind all these stories together in a very understandable and exciting manner. i'm absolutely thrilled! That is because of the integration of the old stories and because of bringing new elements to it. Diving into these new elements by using the internet will be an exciting recreation for me! Also, the integration work shown here is very much similar to what i'm doing now for Dutch history from the 17th to the end of the 20th century for a specific project. All kinds of unknown, sometimes fun, facts pop-up. My integrated story led, unintended and unexpected, to a comprehensive understanding of the Dutch society and dilemmas of today, and also to our relationship with the British. What did Stadhouder Willem III of Orange do in the battle of the Boyne, being victorious as King Billy? Thank you, thank you, for this documentary to freshen up today's knowledge with, perhaps forgotten, facts from the past. And my renewed respect for Tahiti, its people and its contribution to the Western world by the amazing Polynesian sea-faring people.

[@scottzema3103]

You should watch the Bounty films or read the book; I can tell you haven't! Your would be in for some fun.The story of the mutiny has to be one of the most compelling in human history. An exciting adventure.

[@merlapittman5034]

Fascinating! Wonderful to see the women's point of view, as they obviously were the ones who enabled the Pitcairn Island people to survive

[@Stand663]

Such an amazing, intriguing story. Thanks 🙏

[@Northcountry1926]

Thank you very much for this and the associated insights ❤

[@grahamhodgson5778]

My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was Fletcher Christian.Its recorded in official records in England.Also my Great Grandfather Henry Walter Petch was a School teacher on Pitcairn Island.

[@tsundear1731]

Please make this a series

[@jaysmith8199]

You can't talk about the Pitcairns unless you reference the sexual offences that came to light in 2004. Some of the men had raped, sexually assaulted and harassed young girls on the island. Some were from the Christian line. It was a form of power and control to keep islanders in line. These girls were 12 and 13. UK police officers were sent to the island to live there whilst this trial in NZ went on. I knew one of the police who was sent there for a 6 month stint. And yes, most were guilty and sentenced.

[@harbourdogNL]

Why would either of them have to reference something that has nothing to do with the story being told here? Not to dismiss the horrific abuses that happened, but that's not the topic, is it? What you're suggesting would be like having to reference Hitler and nazis every time anyone talks about Germany.

[@ingridsouthcoast_]

Couldn't agree more. Talking reverently in hushed tones about a group of violent men, the women who enabled them and how they founded a society where child abuse was normal until the 2000s. SMH.

[@mteokay1246]

Very fascinating. The mutiny has always been told from the men's perspective... thank you for this "softer" angle. I wish there were logs kept Mrs Christian but thats just wishful thinking considering the times they lived in .. late 1700s. Anyway im from the Fiji islands and tapa in Fijian is "masi" ... but the name of the wooden bark-mallet or hammer is the same - we also call it " ie " ( same pronounciation as Tahitian ).

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

What a very specialized job!

[@plainnpretty]

I like hearing other people’s stories and I never knew the rest of the Bounty story thanks.I’m a woodcarver so I’d like to know who carved the beaters ?

[@juliaconnell]

hmm - thanks for the explanation about the re-upload... started to watch, then realised I needed to get some sleep... at a more reasonable hour (ie not 4:45am) will send to someone who might be interested in this.. as well as listen myself....

[@britishmuseum]

Sleep well!

[@scottzema3103]

I do have a couple of questions! How accurate were the depictions of Tahitian society in the Bounty films? I am asking because I found the Tahitian encounter with the Bounty in the 1962 film with Marlon Brando to be very exciting and colorful and subsequent depictions of daily life in Tahiti equally interesting in the movie. Am I looking at fact or Hollywood?

[@scottzema3103]

BTW I am not talking sex..not necessarily 🙂The leaf diadems the actors wore suggest deeper Tahitian traditions, for instance. The actors really projected a sense of community. Any thoughts?

[@miranda530]

También hay otra isla llamada rapanui donde podrían ir devolviendo el moái 🗿🇨🇱

[@martinsmith6049]

What's a Moai?

[@pablolarraguibel]

Devuelvan el Moái 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@johnransom1146]

Tough stuff those women

[@sgassocsg]

Fabulous content. Beautiful. Noble, please do more. However, The political comments are disheartening and bode poorly for our collective future.

[@JJONNYREPP]

Beyond the Mutiny on the Bounty, the untold founding of Pitcairn Island | Entangled histories 1852pm 25.5.23 and the argument still rages. and then some!!!! i do enjoy the film the bounty starring hopkins and co. and if you are studying the tale then it's worth watching to fill out any notions you may have fermenting, not necessarily to give any credence to the events portrayed... afterall the argument still rages and the events still differ as to who or what was to blame... irrespective of your views - the bligh and bloody mighties still perpetuate life's vagaries...

[@alexmarshall4331]

The crew of the Bounty were dragged from the gin house's and gutters of Deptford High Street,London SE8...hello from South East London... Just 500 metres from Captain Blighs house (opposite the Imperial War Museum) 👉🇬🇧👈👉😵👈❗

[@timkbirchico8542]

Mr Christian and fellows would disagree. Bligh was mutinied again as governor of Australia. He was a very capable seaman but a scoundrel and a liar.

[@alexmarshall4331]

@timkbir chico I'm quoting from the book...and coming from Deptford,in fact from Pepys Estate...the site of the Admiralty in Blighs day we were schooled routinely as to the "facts" of Bligh,The Bounty,Fletcher Christian etc...in fact Glyn Christian, the broadcaster and descendent of Fletcher gave several talks on the subject...no doubt Bligh was a marginal character but in the context of the time not so bad.It is a controversial subject when descendents of Bligh and Christian face off...👉🇬🇧👈⁉️

[@JJONNYREPP]

Beyond the Mutiny on the Bounty, the untold founding of Pitcairn Island | Entangled histories 1903pm 25.5.23 this is testament to the dubious notions which led to press ganging folk ie: having folk do things against their will... the idealist states i would have followed fletcher christian.... and those who despise the pedagogue would probably still side with fletcher christian. maybe experience will teach one siding with bligh...? he did prove the better man in getting his remaining crew back to relative civilization. but, as i say, the argument still rages. and the tears still flow etc etc etc etc...

[@JJONNYREPP]

@@timkbirchico8542 Beyond the Mutiny on the Bounty, the untold founding of Pitcairn Island | Entangled histories 1906pm 25.5.23 he also failed, prior to the infamous voyage, re: issues with a rowdy crew and not being able to keep a steady ship (no pun intended)... as for issues with being a governor in australia - this i do not recall. as for him being a "scoundrel and a liar" - again, that's open to conjecture. if he wanted his men back on ship then he's not going to come across as a decent fellow if he's dismissing the natives so his crew can focus on the job they had been set...

[@timkbirchico8542]

@@JJONNYREPP Bligh went on to be a Governor in Australia. His people mutinied against him there also. A very good navigator and seaman Bligh was but he was not a gentleman by nature.

[@aaronjaben7913]

That would take a lot of skill to beat that diamond pattern consistently

[@veryhairyballs2554]

Lovely video, did you steal this too?

[@shendaraalshedir1933]

Very cool that science helps us trace our ancestry even better these days. Imagine finding out this is your ancestry, wow, that's really something! Not condoning mutiny of course, but look what the mixing of cultures can bring. As an artist l truly appreciate seeing things new to me, like how barkcloth was made. I hope there are artisans still making this in Tahiti, it's quite beautiful.👍🏻😊 🐾🌈☮️🇨🇦

[@dannielcruz460]

No the British museum took my ancestors treasure and wrote what “THEY” believed British museum biggest gang in history

[@mangot589]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@dannielcruz460Please stop. Omg. Find something real to help with now, instead of something to be so indigent about then. 200 years ago? Seriously? Stop blaming history. ALL of our ancestors did whatever. Your decedents are going to call you a POS too, belive me. And stop pretending you really give a shit about it.

[@dannielcruz460]

@@mangot589 why should Britain who wants all of its English artifacts to be in England but won’t do the same to others also I’m just a farmer boy taking care of his fam working and growing food and spreading truth, no matter what lies and false shouldn’t be tolerated

[@IVWOR]

Дякую👍 ... На початку це тяжко для сприйняття але якщо вам дійсно цікаво то через декілька хвилин буде ... легше 🙂

[@timkbirchico8542]

hello tovarich , sorry, I dont speak Russian. what did you say?

[@iktunutki]

This is Ukrainian.

[@dzaster4050]

​@@timkbirchico8542Tovarisch hasn't been a form of address for decades. And it's Ukrainian.

[@mercedesrun6643]

Regresen el Moai 🗿 Return the Moai 🗿

[@endicottsummers203]

Very interesting, but the ceaseless background music for the first five minutes is very intrusive and gets in the way of the spoken words. Maybe the music could be faded out after the first 30 seconds. This comment applies to the reuploaded version. Love The British Museum channel and am just making this comment in the spirit of constructive feedback.

[@BSG0005]

You really glossed over the part where Christian & the mutineers kidnapped the Tahitians before sailing to Pitcairn …”when women packed for the Bounty…” ???

[@heenanyou]

Please use gloves when handling the artefacts, especially the fragile paper items.

[@Ben-kv7wr]

Incorrect. Gloves impede sense of touch, making it more difficult to touch objects carefully leading to more damage. Museum curators are aware of this, I’m sure the ones running this channel know more than you.

[@hsmd4533]

The chanting in the background is horrible. Unwatchable.

[@juliaconnell]

ah was just thinking, as wonderful as this content is, from BRITISH museum, be awesome to not just have that lovely waitata (song) from that talented wahine (woman) in the background - even as a pakeha (a 'white' person, someone from a 'european' background - ) be nice to hear from tangata whenua (indigenous people)* - so kia ora Dr Reynolds, look forward to listening to you. arohanui from Aotearoa/New Zealand *appreciate this is not possible with most of the content of the British Museum - ie no romans, greeks, mesopotamians etc around to speak for their culture.

[@adidoron5080]

Two things bothered me, 1- When Dr Reynolds answered that it was "hard" to find the names of the bounty Tahitians, it's not interesting, we want to know a bit more on the "how". 2- They hold old museum artifact without gloves. my2c.

[@jmrider6078]

Museum Artifacts are now handled without gloves. This has become the norm with paper artifacts as Cotton gloves are made of tangled fibres that can easily catch on small tears or rough areas in weak and degraded paper and leather.

[@adidoron5080]

@@jmrider6078 OH..thanks, I didn't know that.

[@haumakaa]

Get back the Moai to Rapa Nui, pompous thieves!🗿

[@WalterBurton]

Is that correct? At about 5:00? "By Christmas Day, 1800, of the nine original mutineers, only John Adams had survived." When was FC's youngest born?

[@britishmuseum]

Presuming you mean Fletcher Christian when you say FC, the latest any of his offspring could have been born would be sometime before the middle of 1794, as Christian died September 1793. However, Mary Ann Christian (youngest) is recorded as being born in 1793.

[@WalterBurton]

@@britishmuseum : Hmm. Thanks for the reply. What is the evidence for Christian's date of death?

[@franciscoolavarria8380]

Devuelvan el moai

[@lourdesevaristo1428]

DEVUELVAN EL MOAI. 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿

[@DavidANDERSON-qm5ex]

She touches the artwork with no gloves, bends it, flattens it. And says “I’d rather get my information from this than that”. “That” being the English written document by Christian to actually say what it is? She knows their names because they were recorded by writing. 🤔

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Why are you not wearing cotton gloves to handle those items?

[@iktunutki]

It reduces sensitivity in the fingers and increases the chance of damaging the paper.

[@samibryant6252]

Here’s a video on exactly that topic! Gloves aren’t always the best thing for handling certain types of artefacts kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLdfaikqZt_qJI

[@gwilson664]

They needed hard material and didn't have wood and used bone. I wouldn't call that innovative, anyone would be resourceful in that way. Hyperbole of human existence.

[@tod1way]

This would have been an enjoyable video without the chanting. I can understand including it as part of the beginning and ending. Most videos have some sort of musical accompaniment as lead in and also outro. But, the chanting through the entirety of the video is distracting. I'm terribly sorry to say this. I mean no disrespect of the culture. I had only chosen the video for the history of The Bounty and Pitcairn, not necessarily for any sort of cultural lesson, like chants. Maybe a separate video on the culture itself would be a better setting than in a historical one.

[@normanpearson8753]

Let me say it .The chanting is off putting , and tiresome , as is all background music on any video , ot TV programme.Stop it !

[@tod1way]

@@normanpearson8753 agreed! I just tried to be polite. But, you nailed it.

[@kellysouter4381]

I would never have taken that lady for Tahitian. I know its not currently popular but she does seem white to me.

[@iallso1]

There are many of Maori decent in New Zealand who are visually white, it is not about appearance it is about heritage, and from treating everyone with respect irrespective of appearance.

[@mauatua2746]

Hi Kelly! That's my beautiful mama in the video, and I understand what you mean, Norfolk Islanders do look very different to Tahitians (I'm half Norfolk Islander and half Tahitian, so I know). It's because of our history that we look the way we do, but it's actually a lot more complicated than us just being White or being Tahitian; we are both, and more. Although we have 'mixed heritage' (as you can see), we all come in different sizes and colours, just like White people, just like Tahitian people. But, above all, we are islander TO OUR CORE. We weave, we make hei, we have dishes with raw fish and coconut cream, we care for our elders, we sing together, we prioritise community, we laugh loudly. We are white and brown and everything in between.

[@mejbaahmed]

Return india n Bangladesh artifacts You guys loot them

[@Vandal_Savage]

Only if you take back all of the immigrants here as well.

[@normanpearson8753]

We couldn't return them quickky enough , after taking them out of the 14 th. century .

[@tracywilliams2873]

Cant beleve she was putting her hands all over that artifact ,she should be wearing gloves...but then she is bashing it causing fiber damage......Unbelievable

[@Ben-kv7wr]

Incorrect. Gloves dampen the sense of touch actually making it more likely that gloved hands will damage artifacts particularly textiles and papers. I’m sure this *museum* knows more about that than you. Just sound ignorant and ungrateful.