56 CAPTAIN COOK 



Unhappily, thefts frequently marred the se- 

 renity of Cook's relations with the natives. 

 When the fort was finished, all the astronomical 

 instruments, among them the great quadrant, an 

 instrument of considerable weight used in ob- 

 serving the altitude and angular distance of the 

 stars, were brought ashore. Although the quad- 

 rant had been deposited in a tent, before which 

 a sentry had been stationed all night, it was 

 found to have vanished by the following morn- 

 ing. This loss was overwhelming, for no astro- 

 nomical observation was possible without the in- 

 strument. Green and Banks, accompanied by 

 Toubourai Tamaide, left on an expedition with 

 the object of recovering it. After a long journey, 

 they met a native holding part of the quadrant 

 in his hand. Banks, presenting his pistol, 

 rounded up the Indians who had come to the 

 spot, and, drawing a circle on the ground, he 

 made signs to them to deposit within the circle 

 the rest of the instrument which they had stolen. 

 They obeyed, and, piece by piece, the quadrant 

 was reconstructed. 



On another occasion Cook, Banks, Solander 

 and three other Englishmen had gone to visit 

 Tootahah to get from him some pigs which he 

 had promised them, and could not regain the 

 fort that same evening. Banks slept in Obeara's 

 canoe; Cook and the rest passed the night in 



