Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/256

208 and then eat the tender part enclosed in it, which was much too bitter for our palates.

When we arrived on board, we learned that two of the islanders had that morning carried off from an officer of our vessel (Bonvouloir) a uniform cap and a sabre, while he was occupied on shore making some astronomical observations, although the sailors, who had landed with him, had traced upon the sand a large circle round the place of observation, which they had forbidden the savages to enter; but two thieves having concerted their enterprise, advanced with precipitation behind the officer who had just sat down, and placed his sabre underneath him. One of them seized his cap, and the instant he rose up to pursue him, the other ran away with his sabre. This bold manœuvre was certainly not their first attempt.

Night approached, all our boats were already alongside, yet two officers (Dewelle and Willaumez) were still on shore, with two of the ship's crew, but they soon arrived on the beach, followed by a great number of the inhabitants. The General's boat was instantly dispatched to bring them on board. They told us that the savages, who had crowded around them, to the number of above three hundred, upon observing that all our boats had quitted the shore, had be-