Tubuai

Tubuai is a volcanic island in the Austral group, its hills standing within a wide lagoon and barrier reef. In 1777 James Cook sailed near the island but judged the passage into the lagoon too dangerous. In 1789 Fletcher Christian and the Bounty mutineers sought to settle there, returning from Tahiti with supplies and building a fort. Their attempt met resistance from Tubuai warriors, and after violent clashes the mutineers abandoned the island.