78 OTAHITE CHAP, v 



more hogs, etc., than when we had last visited them, suppos- 

 ing it probable that some at least had been driven away 

 on our arrival. This in particular tempted us to go, with 

 many other circumstances, although an old man (an Indian 

 well known to the Dolphin's crew) attempted by many signs 

 to hinder us from going into the woods ; the tent was left 

 in charge of a midshipman with the marines, thirteen in 

 number. We marched away, and were absent about two hours. 

 Shortly before we came back we heard several musket shots. 

 Our old man immediately called us together, and, by waving 

 his hand, sent away every Indian who followed us except 

 three, every one of whom took in their hands a green bough ; 

 on this we suspected that some mischief had happened at 

 the tent, and hastened home with all expedition. On our 

 arrival we found that an Indian had snatched a sentry's 

 musket from him unawares and run off. The midshipman 

 (may be) imprudently ordered the marines to fire, which 

 they did, into the thickest of the flying crowd, some hundreds 

 in number, and pursuing the man who had stolen the musket, 

 killed him. Whether any others were killed or hurt no 

 one could tell. No Indian was now to be seen about the 

 tent except our old man, who with us took all pains to 

 reconcile them again before night. By his means we got 

 together a few of them, and explaining to them that the 

 man who had suffered was guilty of a crime deserving of 

 death (for so were we forced to make it), we retired to the 

 ship, not well pleased with the day's expedition, guilty, no 

 doubt, in some measure of the death of a man whom the 

 most severe laws of equity would not have condemned to 

 so severe a punishment. 



16th. No canoes about the ship this morning, indeed we 

 could not expect any, as it is probable that the news of our 

 behaviour yesterday was now known everywhere, a circum- 

 stance which doubtless will not increase the confidence of 

 our friends the Indians. We were rather surprised that 

 the Dolphin's old man, who seemed yesterday so desirous of 

 making peace, did not come on board to-day. Some few 

 people were upon the beach, but very few in proportion to 



