Bowl
Unknown Artist
Coconut bowl belonging to Lieutenant William Bligh (1754-1817) of the 'Bounty'. A smoothed and hollowed coconut shell, signed and dated 'W Bligh/April 1789' (initials and date are incised). Inscription in ink: 'The cup I eat my miserable allowance out.' A 19th-century museum label is attached with the inscription, numbered '1086': 'Relic of the mutiny on the 'Bounty', bowl made and used by Captain Bligh to eat his ration while adrift.' The bowl was used by Bligh to during the boat voyage from Tofua to Timor in the 'Bounty's' launch - about 3600 nautical miles, which is over 4000 statute (land) miles.
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Purchased with assistance from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Friends of the National Maritime Museum, and the Valentine Charitable Trust, 2002.