Tribute To Breadfruit

According to  the most prolific of all  Maldivian  writers Hussain Salahuddin (14-4-1881 to 20-9 1948)  it was our Sultan  Muhammad Ghiyasuddin, from the Dhiyamigilee Dynasty, popularly known as Haji Bandaarain  who ascended the throne in 1766 AD, ( ten years before Washington became the first US president! ) who  introduced “Ban’bukeyo”- breadfruit  to the country! (so we were introduced to this meal of a fruit couple of decades earlier to Cap'n Bligh's historic trip! )

Ever since I read of the fateful voyage of HMS Bounty and her strong willed Captain William Bligh, the sight of Breadfruit trees and the fruit itself evokes memories of this historic journey.  William Bligh was Captain of the English ship 'Bounty' sent to Tahiti in December, 1787. The mission was to collect and transport breadfruit trees to the West Indies as a new source of cheap, nutritious food for slaves in the West Indian English colonies.  

The HMS Bounty arrived at Tahiti in October 1788, and it took another 5 months to collect and prepare 1,000 breadfruit trees for the trip.  There was a special cabin re designed at the stern of the Bounty ,as a  nursery to accommodate the breadfruit saplings ( reducing living room for the sailors which is also one reason they were jittery )

The Bounty left Tahiti on April 5, 1789 and on April 28 ( Just a few weeks prior to The French Revolution) the most famous mutiny in history took place. The main reason was that while at Tahiti the young sailors had got used to the idyllic island life and many had native girlfriends! The constant rationing of food, cramped living space and the simple living of the Tahitian life and the harsh living conditions of the average sailor were behind the mutiny.

 After being set adrift in a small boat, Captain Bligh made it back to England in 1791 and a year later, after the court marshal acquitted him, he was back in Tahiti and this time was successful in transporting the trees to the West Indies where the trees thrived mightily ever since.  However, the ultimate goal of the mission was unsuccessful - the slaves refused to eat the unfamiliar food.  It took some time, but the breadfruit eventually became a staple food in the West Indies.

Thank You! ( this article is v lovingly  dedicated to my son Maaz who loves deep fried breadfruit chips ;-)