with
another gentleman, at the town of Kavaroah, where we found a great
number of canoes, just arrived from different parts of the island,
and the Indians busy in erecting temporary huts on the beach for their
residence during the stay of the ships. On our return on board the
Discovery, we learned, that an Indian had been detected in stealing
the armourer's tongs from the forge; for which he received a pretty
severe flogging, and was sent out from the ship. Notwithstanding the
example made of this man, in the afternoon another had the audacity
to snatch the tongs and a chisel from the same place, with which he
jumped overboard, and swam for the shore. The master and a midshipman
were instantly dispatched after him in the small cutter. The Indian,
seeing himself pursued, made for a canoe; his countrymen took him on
board, and paddled as swift as they could towards the shore; we fired
several muskets at them, but to no effect, for they soon got out of
the reach of our shot. Pareah, one of the chiefs, who was at that time
on board the Discovery, understanding what had happened, immediately
went ashore, promising to bring back the stolen goods. Our boat was
so far distanced, in chacing the canoe which had taken the thief on
board, that he had time to make his escape into the country. Captain
Cook, who was then ashore, endeavoured to intercept his landing; but
it seems that he was led out of the way by some of the natives, who
had officiously intruded themselves as guides. As the master was
approaching near the landing-place, he was met by some of the Indians
in a canoe. They had brought back the tongs and chisel, together with
another article that we had not missed, which happened to be the lid
of the water-cask. Having recovered these things, he was returning on
board, when he was met by the Resolution's pinnace, with five men in
her, who, without any orders, had come from the observatories to his
assistance. Being thus unexpectedly reinforced, he thought himself
strong enough to insist upon having the thief, or the canoe which took
him in, delivered up as reprisals. With that view he turned back; and
having found the canoe on the beach, he was preparing to launch it
into the water, when Pareah made his appearance, and insisted upon his
not taking it away, as it was his property. The officer not regarding
him, the chief seized upon him, pinioned his arms behind, and held him
by the hair of his head; on which one of the sai