He was always trying to defend himself, and he didn’t have a press office to help him.

On a cold and windy day recently I was reading Bligh’s account of the mutiny on the Bounty. My first thought was that in Bligh’s case we usually hear of the mutineers’ actions; rarely an account by the accused.

Here, in a 190-page book, are Bligh’s words, including some unusual styles: “It will very naturally be asked, what could be the reason for such a revolt? in answer to which I can only conjecture that the mutineers had flattered themselves with the hopes of a more happy life among the Otaheiteans, than they could possibly enjoy in England; and this, joined to some female connexions, most probably occasioned the whole transaction.”

My concern was with the “verb” conjecture. He didn’t use conject, a verb based on ideas thrown together or even guesswork.

Bligh “conjectured” that the mutineers wanted an easy life with the women. That seemed to have been their only complaint, according to Bligh.

He said he had the ship in perfect order and his door was always open. He added the women were handsome, mild and cheerful in their manners and conversation, just in case you wanted to know.

My understanding of the word conjecture was that it represented a conclusion based on an imaginary case, or an opinion based on insufficient proof.

Some of my friends will not hear any criticism of Bligh in the Bounty mutiny or the rebellion later in Sydney.

But I was looking for something that would justify Bligh’s conclusion that the reason for the Bounty mutiny was based on sex. I don’t disagree with him; I just wanted evidence to counter the negative press Bligh had had to suffer over the years.

My big dictionary says conjecture means an opinion based on insufficient evidence, or even “a contrivance for an evil purpose”, or simply a “suspicion”. It says the word comes from throwing ideas together, or an inference.

But then it quoted Sir Thomas Browne as saying “authentic conjecture”.

Shakespeare used the word several times, including “dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds”, but poor old Bligh didn’t get a mention in my dictionaries.

Bligh in his account of the mutiny asked Fletcher Christian why Christian was acting as he did, and the reply was “I am in hell”.

The word conjecture comes from the Latin conjectura, which broadly means facts or opinions thrown together to reach a conclusion.

Other dictionaries say the word represents an opinion or theory based on insufficient evidence, or even guesswork.

So those mutineers didn’t necessarily base their actions on their liking for the island women, but Bligh wasn’t really going to use his own behaviour as a reason for the mutiny, was he?

Anyway, a man who can steer a rowboat through about 6700km of open sea can’t be all that bad.

And it’s not his fault that the slaves didn’t like the breadfruit.

lauriebarber.com;

lbarber@midcoast.com.au