1769. May. would himself be a pledge for their fafety, In defpight of the thief: of this, however, we would not admit; and making them undertand Monday 15. that a fentry would be placed to watch the cafks till the morning, he removed the beds into Mr. Banks's tent, where he and his family spent the night, making figns to the fentry when he rẹ-tired, that he should keep his eyes open. In the night this intelligence appeared to be true; about twelve o'clock the thief came, but difcovering that a watch had been fet, he went away without his booty. Mr. Banks's confidence in Tubourai Tamaide had greatly increased fince the affair of the knife, in confequence of which he was at length exposed to temptations which neither his integrity nor his honour was able to refift. They had withstood many allurements, but were at length enfnared by the fascinating charms of a basket of nails: these nails were much larger than any that had yet been brought into trade, and had, with perhaps fome degree of criminal negligence, been left in a corner of Mr. Banks's tent, to which the Chief had always free accefs. One of these nails Mr. Banks's fervant happened to see in his poffeffion, upon his having inadvertently thrown back that part of his garment under which it was concealed. Mr. Banks being told of this, and knowing that no fuch thing had been given him, either as a present or in barter, imme CC 3 May. 1769. immediately examined the basket, and discovered, that out of feven nails five were miffing. Monday 15. He then, though not without great reluctance, charged him with the fact, which he immediately confeffed, and however he might fuffer, was probably not more hurt than his accufer. A demand was immediately made of restitution; but this he declined, faying, that the nails were at Eparre: however, Mr. Banks appearing to be much in earnest, and using some threatening figns, he thought fit to produce one of them. He was then taken to the fort, to receive fuch judgment as should be given against him by the general voice. After fome deliberation, that we might not appear to think too lightly of his offence, he was told, that if he would bring the other four nails to the fort, it fhould be forgotten. To this condition he agreed; but I am forry to fay he did not fulfil it. Inftead of fetching the nails, he removed with his family before night, and took all his furniture with him. As our long-boat had appeared to be leaky, I thought it neceffary to examine her bottom, and to my great surprise, found it so much eaten by the worms, that it was necessary to give her a new one; no fuch accident had happened to the Dolphin's boats, as I was informed by the officers on board, and therefore it was a misfortune that I did not expect: I feared that the pinnace 1769. May. pinnace alfo might be nearly in the fame condition; but, upon examining her, I had the fatisfaction to find that not a worm had touched her, Monday 15. though the was built of the fame wood, and had been as much in the water; the reafon of this difference I imagine to be, that the long boat was paid with varnish of pine, and the pinnace painted with white lead and oil; the bottoms of all boats therefore which are fent into this country should be painted like that of the pinnace, and the ships fhould be fupplied with a good stock, in order to give them a new coating when it should be found neceffary. Having received repeated meffages from Tootahah, that if we would pay him a vifit he would acknowledge the favour by a present of four hogs, I fent Mr. Hicks, my firft lieutenant, to try if he could not procure the hogs upon easier terms, with orders to show him every civility in his power. Mr. Hicks found that he was removed from Eparre to a place called TETTAHAH, five miles farther to the weftward. He was received with great cordiality; one hog was immediately produced, and he was told that the other three, which were at some distance, should be brought in the morning. Mr. Hicks readily confented to stay; but the morning came without the hogs, and it not being convenient to stay longer, he returned in the evening with the one he had got. 1769. May. L On the 25th, Tubourai Tamaide and his wife Tomio made their appearance at the tent, for Thurfd. 25. the first time fince he had been detected in stealing the nails; he seemed to be under fome difcontent and apprehenfion, yet he did not think fit to purchase our countenance and good-will by restoring the four which he had fent away. As Mr. Banks and the other gentlemen treated him with a coolness and reserve which did not at all tend to restore his peace or good-humour, his stay was short, and his departure abrupt. Mr. Monkhoufe, the furgeon, went the next morning in order to effect a reconciliation, by perfuading him to bring down the nails, but he could not fucceed. CHAP. CHAP. XIII. Another Vifit to Tootahab, with various Adventures: Extraordinary Amufement of the Indians, with Remarks upon it: Preparations to obferve the Tranfit of Venus, and what happened in the mean time at the Fort. Ο N the 27th, it was determined that we 1769, Thould pay our visit to Tootahah, though May. we were not very confident that we should re- Saturd, 27. ceive the hogs for our pains. I therefore fet out early in the morning, with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, and three others, in the pinnace. He was now removed from Tettahah, where Mr. Hicks had seen him, to a place called ATAHOUROU, about fix miles farther, and as we could not go above half-way thither in the boat, it was almost evening before we arrived: we found him in his ufual ftate, fitting under a tree, with a great crowd about him. We made our presents in due form, confifting of a yellow stuff petticoat, and fome other trifling articles, which were graciously received; a hog was immediately ordered to be killed and dreffed for supper, with a promise of more in the morning: however, as we were lefs defirous of feafting upon our jour ney |