Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/141

Rh which they got off with two. Lycurgus and Hercules were the only two who had not yet been found guilty; but they stood in our opinion but upon ticklish ground, as we could not well suppose them entirely free from a vice their countrymen were so much given to.

Last night Dr. Solander lent his knife to one of Lycurgus's women, who forgot to return it; this morning mine was missing. I resolved to go to Lycurgus, and ask him whether or not he had stolen it, trusting that if he had he would return it. On taxing him with it, he denied knowing anything concerning it. I told him I was resolved to have it returned; on this a man present produced a rag in which were tied up three knives. One was Dr. Solander's, the other a table-knife, and the third no one claimed. With these he marched to the tents to make restitution, while I remained with the women, who much feared that he would be hurt. Arrived there, he restored the two knives to the proper owners, and began immediately to search for mine in all the places where he had ever seen it. One of my servants seeing what he was about brought it to him; he had, it seems, laid it aside the day before without my knowledge. Lycurgus then burst into tears, making signs with my knife that if he was ever guilty of such an action he would submit to have his throat cut. He returned immediately to me with a countenance sufficiently upbraiding me for my suspicions; the scene was immediately changed, I became the guilty and he the innocent person. A few presents and staying a little with him reconciled him entirely; his behaviour, however, has given me a much higher opinion of him than of his countrymen.

27th. Lycurgus and a friend of his (who ate most monstrously, and was accordingly christened Epicurus) dined with us. At night they took their leave and departed; but Lycurgus soon returned with fire in his eyes, seized my arm, and signed to me to follow him. I did, and he soon brought me to a place where was our butcher, who, he told me by signs, had either threatened or attempted to cut his wife's throat with a reaping-hook he had in his hand.