1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 179 



and many tears when they were put into the boat. I 

 went on board with them, and Mr. Banks remained 

 on shore, with some others whom I thought it of less 

 consequence to secure. 



About nine o'clock, Webb was brought back by 

 some of the natives, who declared, that Gibson, and 

 the petty officer and corporal, would be detained till 

 Tootahah should be set at liberty. The tables were 

 now turned upon me ; but I had proceeded too far 

 to retreat. I immediately dispatched Mr. Hicks in 

 the long-boat, with a strong party of men, to rescue 

 the prisoners, and told Tootahah that it behoved 

 him to send some of his people with them, witb 

 orders to afford them effectual assistance, and to de- 

 mand the release of my men in his name, for that I 

 should expect him to answer for the contrary. He 

 readily complied : this party recovered my men 

 without the least opposition ; and about seven 

 o'clock in the morning returned with them to the 

 ship, though they had not been able to recover the 

 arms which had been taken from them when they 

 were seized : these, however, were brought on board 

 in less than half an hour, and the chiefs were imme- 

 diately set at liberty. 



When I questioned the petty officer concerning 

 what had happened on shore, he told me, that neither 

 the natives who went with him, nor those whom they 

 met in their way, would give them any intelligence 

 of the deserters ; but, on the contrary, became very 

 troublesome : that, as he was returning for further 

 orders toi;he ship, he and his comrade were suddenly 

 seized by a number of armed men, who having learnt 

 that Tootahah was confined, had concealed them- 

 selves in a wood for that purpose, and who, having 

 taken them at a disadvantage, forced their weapons 

 out of their hands, and declared, that they would 

 detain them till their chief should be set at liberty. 

 He said, however, that the Indians were not unani- 

 mous in this measure; that some were for setting 



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