FIRST VOYAGE 29 



the evening he landed with some of the crew, when the 

 Indians assembled round them, and they trafficked together 

 as before. 



The fort began to be erected on the 18th. Some of the 

 company were employed in throwing up intrenchments, 

 whilst others were occupied in cutting fascines and pickets, 

 which the Indians of their own accord cheerfully assisted 

 in bringing from the woods. Bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts 

 were also brought in such large quantities, that it was neces- 

 sary to reject them, and to intimate that none would be 

 wanted for two days. Beads were taken in exchange for 

 everything. 



Mr. Monkhouse, the surgeon, in his evening walk, saw the 

 body of the man who had been shot at the tent. It was 

 deposited in a shed, close to the house where he had resided 

 when alive. The corpse was placed on a bier, the frame of 

 which was wood, with a matted bottom, supported by posts 

 about five feet high. It was covered with a mat, overlaid 

 by a white cloth ; by its side lay a wooden mace, and 

 towards the head two cocoa-nut shells ; towards the feet 

 was a bunch of green leaves and small dried boughs, tied 

 together and stuck in the ground, near which was a stone the 

 size of a cocoa-nut : here was also placed a young plantain 

 tree and a stone axe. The natives seemed displeased at his 

 approaching the body. 



A specimen of the music of the country was given on the 

 22nd ; some of the natives performed on flutes with only 

 two stops ; the performer blew with his nostril instead of his 

 mouth : several accompanied the instrument with a gong, 

 but there was only one tune. 



On the 25th, several knives belonging to the officers were 

 missing ; upon which Mr. Banks, who had lost his among 

 the rest, rashly accused one of the chiefs of the theft, the 

 knife all the while having been mislaid by Mr. Banks' 

 servant. The poor chief, who was quite innocent, took the 

 charge very much to heart. The tears started from his eyes, 

 and he made signs with the knife, that if he had ever been 

 guilty of such an action as was imputed to him, he would 

 suffer his throat to be cut. In general, however, these 

 people, from the highest to the lowest, are too much 

 addicted to pilfering. 



On the 26th, six swivel guns were mounted upon the 

 fort, which put the natives into great consternation ; and 

 caused several fishermen, who lived upon the point, to 

 remove further off, imagining they were to be fired at in a 

 few days. 



The next day Tubora Tumaida, with a friend and three 

 of his women, dined at the fort. Soon after his departure 



