traced it to a part of the bay where he was told it had been put into a canoe, but as it was not of great confequence he did not complete the discovery. When he returned, he was told by Tubourai Tamaide, that another cask would be ftolen before the morning: how he came by this knowlege it is not easy to imagine; that he was not a party in the design is certain, for he came with his wife and his family to the place where the water casks stood, and placing their beds near them, he said he would himself be a pledge for their fafety, in despight of the thief: of this, however, we would not admit; and making them understand that a fentry would be placed to watch the casks 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 retired, that he should keep his eyes open. In the night this intelligence appeared to be true; about twelve o'clock the thief came, but discovering that a watch had been fet, he went away without his booty.. Mr. Banks's confidence in Tubourai Tamaide had greatlyincreased fince the affair of the knife, in consequence of which he was at length expofed 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 thefe nails Mr. Banks's fervant happened to fee 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: 6 him,, 1769. May. Monday 15: 1769. May. him, either as a present or in barter, immediately examined the basket, and discovered, that out of feven nails five were Monday 15. miffing. He then, though not without great reluctance, charged him with the fact, which he immediately confessed, and however he might fuffer, was probably not more hurt than his accufer. A demand was immediately made of reftitution; but this he declined, faying, that the nails were at Eparre: however, Mr. Banks appearing to be much in earnest, and using fome threatening figns, he thought fit to produce one of them. He was then taken to the fort, to receive such judgment as fhould 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 should be forgotten. To this condition he agreed; but I am forry to say 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 furprize, found it fo much eaten by the worms, that it was neceffary to give her a new one; no such 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 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, 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 fhould be painted like that of the pinnace, and the fhips fhould be supplied with a good stock, in order to give them a new coating when it should be found neceffary. 1769. May. Having received repeated meffages from Tootahah, that Wednes. 24. if we would pay him a visit he would acknowledge the favour by a prefent of four hogs, I fent Mr. Hicks, my First 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 westward. He was received with great cordiality; one hog was immediately produced, and he was told that the other three, which were at fome diftance, fhould be brought in the morn ing. Mr. Hicks readily consented 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 that he had got. On the 25th, Tubourai Tamaide and his wife Tomio made Thursday 25. their appearance at the tent, for the first time fince he had been detected in ftealing the nails; he feemed to be under fome discontent 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 coolnefs and referve which did not at all tend to restore his peace or good-humour, his ftay was short, and his departure abrupt. Mr. Monkhouse, the Surgeon, went the next morning in order to effect a reconciliation, by perfuading him to bring down the nails, but he could not fucceed. VOL. II. $ СНАР. 1769. May. CHAP. XIII. Another Vifit to Tootabah, with various Adventures: Extraordinary Amusement of the Indians, with Remarks upon it: Preparations to obferve the Tranfit of Venus, and what happened in the mean time at the Fort. N the 27th, it was determined that we should pay our Vith earth, it was determined were wet very confident visit to Tootahah, though we were not very < Saturday 27. that we should receive 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 feen 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 usual state, fitting under a tree, with a great crowd about him. We made our prefents in due form, confifting of a yellow ftuff petticoat, and fome other trifling articles, which were graciously received; a hog was immediately ordered to be killed and dressed for fupper, with a promise of more in the morning: however, as we were lefs defirous of feafting upon our journey than of carrying back with us provifions, which would be more welcome at the fort, we procured a reprieve for the hog, and fupped upon the fruits of the country. As night now came on, and the place was crowded with many more than the houses and canoes would contain; there being Oberea with her attendants, and many other travellers whom we knew, we began to look out for lodgings. Our party -confifted confifted of fix: Mr. Banks thought himself fortunate in béing offered a place by Oberea in her canoe, and wishing his friends a good night, took his leave. He went to reft early, according to the custom of the country, and taking off his clothes, as was his conftant practice, the nights being hot, Oberea kindly infifted upon taking them into her own custody, for otherwife fhe faid they would certainly be stolen. Mr. Banks having fuch a fafeguard, refigned himself to sleep with all imaginable tranquillity: but awaking about eleven o'clock, and wanting to get up, he fearched for his clothes where he had feen them deposited by Oberea when he lay down to fleep, and foon perceived that they were missing. He immediately awakened Oberea, who starting up, and hearing his complaint, ordered lights, and prepared in great hafte to recover what he had loft: Tootahah himself slept in the next canoe, and being foon alarmed, he came to them and fet out with Oberea in fearch of the thief: Mr. Banks was not in a condition to go with them, for of his apparel fcarce any thing was left him but his breeches; his coat, and his waistcoat, with his piftols, powder-horn, and many other things that were in the pockets, were gone. In about half an hour his two noble friends returned, but without having obtained any intelligence of his clothes or of the thief. At firft he began to be alarmed, his mufquet had not indeed been taken away, but he had neglected to load it; where I and Dr. Solander had disposed of ourselves he did not know; and therefore, whatever might happen, he could not have recourse to us for affiftance. He thought it best, however, to exprefs neither fear nor fufpicion of those about him, and giving his mufquet to Tupia, who had been waked in the confufion and ftood by him, with a charge not to fuffer it to be ftolen, he betook himself again to reft, declaring himself perfectly fatisfied with the pains that Tootahah and Oberea 1769. May. Saturday 27. |