1769. ROUND THE WOULD. 18.5 



night, took his leave. He went to rest early, accord- 

 ing to the custom of the country, and taking off his 

 clothes, as was his constant practice, the nights be- 

 ing hot, Oberea kindly insisted upon taking them 

 into her own custody, for otherwise she said they 

 would certainly be stolen. Mr. Banks having such 

 a safeguard, resigned himself to sleep with all ima- 

 ginable tranquillity : but waking about eleven 

 o'clock, and wanting to get up, he searched for his 

 clothes where he had seen them deposited by Oberea 

 when he lay down to sleep, and soon perceived that 

 they were missing. He immediately awakened Obe- 

 rea, who starting up, and hearing his complaint, 

 ordered lights, and prepared in great haste to re- 

 cover what he had lost : Tootahah himself slept in 

 the next canoe, and being soon alarmed, he came to 

 them, and set out with Oberea in search of the thief. 

 Mr. Banks was not in a condition to go with them, 

 for of his apparel scarce any thing was left him but 

 his breeches ; his coat, and his waistcoat, with his 

 pistols, powder-horn, and many other things that 

 were in the pockets, were gone. In about half an 

 hour his two noble friends returned, but without 

 having obtained any intelligence of his clothes or of 

 the thief. At first he began to be alarmed, his mus- 

 ket had not indeed been taken away, but he had 

 neglected to load it ; where 1 and Dr. Solander had 

 disposed of ourselves he did not know ; and there- 

 fore, whatever might happen, he could not have re- 

 course to us for assistance. He thought it best, 

 however, to express neither fear nor suspicion of 

 those about him, and giving his musket to Tupia, 

 who had been waked in the confusion and stood by 

 him, with a charge not to suffer it to be stolen, he 

 betook himself again to rest, declaring himself per- 

 fectly satisfied with the pains that Tootahah and 

 Oberea had taken to recover his things, though they 

 had not been successful. As it cannot be supposed 

 that in such a situation his sleep was very sound, he 



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