Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/158

100 to every one that the boats should not stir until all the things were brought back. A list of the articles was immediately drawn up and read several times to the Indians, who at once promised that everything should be returned. Great application was made to me on my arrival that some of the boats might be released. I did not until I got to the fort understand the reason of their detention, but when I did nothing appeared plainer than that no one of them should on any account be given up from favour, but that the whole should be kept till the things were restored—if ever they were—which I much doubted, as the canoes did not belong to the people who had the articles. I confess, that had I taken a step so violent, I would have seized either the persons of the people who had stolen from us (most of whom we either knew, or shrewdly suspected), or at least their goods, instead of those of people who were entirely unconcerned in the affair, and had not probably interest enough with their superiors (to whom all valuable things are carried) to procure the restoration demanded.

17th. Mr. Gore and myself went to Eparre to shoot ducks, little thinking what the consequence of our expedition would be; for before we had half filled our bags we had frightened away Dootahah and all his household with their furniture. It was no small diversion to us to find his Majesty so much more fearful than his ducks.

20th. This morning early Oborea and some others came to the tents, bringing a large quantity of provisions as a present, among the rest a very fat dog. We had lately learnt that these animals were eaten by the Indians, and esteemed more delicate food than pork; now therefore was an opportunity of trying the experiment. The dog was immediately given over to Tupia, who, finding that it was a food that we were not accustomed to, undertook to stand butcher and cook. He killed the animal by stopping his breath, holding his hands fast over his mouth and nose, an operation which took more than a quarter of an hour: he then proceeded to dress him much in the same manner as we would do a pig, singeing him over the fire and scraping