FIRST VOYAGE 31 



few days before, accompanied by some of his women, who 

 used to feed him, came on board by himself ; and when 

 dinner was on table, the captain helped him to some 

 victuals, thinking upon this occasion he would condescend 

 to feed himself ; but he never attempted to eat, and had 

 not one of the servants fed him, he would certainly have 

 gone without his dinner. 



Next day having occasion to use the quadrant, to their 

 great astonishment and concern it was missing. This was 

 the more extraordinary, as a sentinel had been posted 

 the whole night within a few yards of the tent in which it 

 had been deposited ; and it had never been taken out of the 

 case in which it was packed. As the loss of this instrument 

 would have rendered it impossible for them to have made 

 the necessary observations respecting the transit, every 

 possible search was made in the vicinity. At last Mr. 

 Banks, accompanied by Mr. Green and some others, set out 

 for the woods, where it was thought some intelligence of the 

 robbery might be gained, if it had been committed by the 

 natives. In the course of their journey they met Tubora 

 Tumaida, with a few of the natives, who by signs was made 

 to understand that some of his countrymen had stolen the 

 quadrant, and that it must be produced. The chief im- 

 mediately made inquiry ; and by his interference, the 

 instrument was recovered without any material injury, 

 though it had been taken to pieces. 



On Friday the 5th, Captain Cook, accompanied by Mr. 

 Banks and Dr. Solander, set out in the pinnace, taking one 

 of Tootahah's people with them, to visit that chief. They 

 soon reached Eparre, the place where he lived, which was 

 but a few miles to the west of the tents. Upon their 

 arrival, they were immediately conducted to the chief, whilst 

 the natives shouted round them, " TaioTootahah! Tootahah 

 is your friend ! " They found him sitting under a tree, 

 and some old men standing round him. As soon as he had 

 made signs for them to sit down, Captain Cook presented 

 him witii a shirt and a broad cloth garment, with which he 

 seemed greatly pleased : and put the garment on. After 

 eating a mouthful together in the boat, they were conducted 

 to a large area, or court-yard, on one side of his house, where 

 an entertainment was provided for them, consisting of 

 wrestling. The chief sat at the upper end of the area, with 

 several of his principal men on each side of him, by way of 

 judges, from whom the conquerors received applause. Ten 

 or twelve combatants entered the area, and after many 

 simple ceremonies of challenging each other, they engaged, 

 endeavouring to throw one another by dint of strength ; 

 then seizing hold of each other by the thigh, the hand, 



