Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/196

162 fruits, designed as a present to the General from Queen Tiné.

We expressed a strong desire to see some of the natives engage in a wrestling match; but we were told that a spectacle of this sort was never exhibited before the Queen.

This entertainment had attracted a great number of the natives, among whom were several thieves, whose impudence was continually increasing. They had already taken several articles from some or other of us by open force, and run off with them into the woods.

More than thirty of us were assembled together, and we were quenching our thirst with the delicious liquor of the cocoa-nuts, which Tiné had just presented to the General, when a native had the audacity to snatch a knife out of one of our hands. Indignant at such effrontery, several of our party immediately ran after the thief, and pursued him as far as the island of Tongataboo; but, finding themselves surrounded by a great number of the natives, they presently returned toward our anchoring place. The smith of the Recherche, however, a German by birth, thought it was proper to show more courage than the rest, by venturing farther and farther among the natives. These soon faced about, pursued him in their