1.78 cook's first voyage JULY, 



that they did not intend to return, and had taken re- 

 fuge in the mountains, where it was impossible for 

 our people to find them. They were then requested 

 to assist in the search, and after some deliberation, 

 two of them undertook to conduct such persons as I 

 should think proper to send after them to the place 

 of their retreat. As they were known to be without 

 arms, I thought two would be sufficient, and ac- 

 cordingly dispatched a petty officer, and the cor- 

 poral of the marines, with the Indian guides, to fetch 

 them back. As the recovery of these men was a mat- 

 ter of great importance, as I had no time to lose, and 

 as the Indians spoke doubtfully of their return, tell- 

 ting us, that they had each of them taken a wife, and 

 were become inhabitants of the country, it was inti- 

 mated to several of the chiefs who were in the fort 

 with their wom.en, among whom were Tubourai Ta- 

 maide, Tomio, and Oberea, that they would not be 

 permitted to leave it till our deserters were brought 

 back. This precaution I thought the more necessary, 

 as, by concealing them a few days, they might com- 

 pel me to go without them ; and I had the pleasure 

 to observe, that they received the intimation with 

 very little signs either of fear or discontent ; assuring 

 me that my people should be secured and sent back 

 as soon as possible. While this was doing at the fort, 

 I sent Mr. Hicks in the pinnace to fetch Tootahah 

 on board the ship, which he did, without alarming 

 either him or his people. If the Indian guides 

 proved faithful and in earnest, I had reason to ex- 

 pect the return of my people with the deserters be- 

 fore evening. Being disappointed, my suspicions in- 

 creased ; and night coming on, I thought it was not 

 safe to let the people whom I had detained as host- 

 ages continue at the fort, and I therefore ordered 

 Tubourai Tamaide, Oberea, and some others, to be 

 taken on board the ship. This spread a general 

 alarm, and several of them, especially the women, 

 expressed their apprehensions with great emotion 



2 



