110 cook's VOYAGE TO NOV, 



would answer the same end as copper, on the bottoms 

 of ships. 



On the 24th, in the morning, I was informed that 

 a midshipman and a seaman, both belonging to the 

 Discovery, were missing. Soon after, we learnt 

 from the natives, that they went away in a canoe the 

 preceding evening, and were, at this time, at the 

 other end of the island. As the midshipman was 

 known to have expressed a desire to remain at these 

 islands, it seemed pretty certain, that he and his 

 companion had gone off with this intention ; and 

 captain Clerke set out in quest of them with two 

 armed boats, and a party of marines. His expedi- 

 tion proved fruitless ; for lie returned in the evening, 

 without having got any certain intelligence where 

 they were. From the conduct of the natives, cap- 

 tain Clerke seemed to think, that they intended to 

 conceal the deserters ; and, with that view, had 

 amused him with ialse information the whole day, 

 and directed him to search for them in places where 

 they were not to be found. The captain judged 

 right ; for the next morning we were told, that our 

 runaways were at Otaha. As these two were not the 

 only persons in the ships who wished to end their 

 days at these favourite islands, in order to put a stop 

 to any further desertion, it was necessary to get them 

 back at all events ; and that the natives might be 

 convinced that I was in earnest, I resolved to go af- 

 ter them myself; having observed, from repeated in- 

 stances, that they seldom offered to deceive me with 

 false information. 



Accordingly, I set out, the next morning, with 

 two armed boats ; being accompanied by the chief 

 himself. I proceeded, as he directed, without stop- 

 ping any where, till we came to the middle of the east 

 side of Otaha. There we put ashore ; a*nd Oreo dis- 

 patched a man before us, with orders to seize the de- 

 serters, and keep them till we sould arrive with the 

 boats. But when we got to the place where we ex- 



