May 1828. ADELAIDE LOSES A BOAT. 143 
our people, and were apparently very familiar and well-dis- 
posed. 
But they had cast a longing eye on the whale-boat, which, 
when equipped for service, contained many things very useful 
to them, and they laid a plan to carry her off, which succeeded. 
One evening she was prepared for going away at an early hour 
the following day, and, to save time, every thing that might 
be required was placed in her, and she was made fast for 
the night. Two or three Indians were then on board, and 
observing what was done, laid their plan, and at sunset took 
their leave as usual. The night was pitchy dark, and at nine 
o’clock the boat was missed from alongside. The alarm was 
given, and instant search made at the wigwams of the Indians, 
who had all decamped, without leaving the least trace of 
themselves or the boat. The ‘ painter, or rope by which 
she had been fastened to the vessel, had been cut through 
with some sharp instrument, most probably a knife, which 
our people had sharpened for them on the grindstone that very 
day. 
Every possible search was made next morning, but without 
success; the boat that was left was one which could not be 
used with any advantage, and Mr. Graves returned to Port 
Famine. Vexatious as the accident was, I could not blame him 
for what had occurred, for no one had suspicions of such 
conduct from the Indians, who, on all other occasions, had kept 
at a distance from us after night-fall. The boat was properly 
secured alongside, and the night was so cold that no person 
would have thought the Indians would expose themselves to 
such a temperature (28°); for they must have swum alongside 
to cut her adrift, and then must have towed her away very 
gradually, to prevent the theft being discovered, for there were 
two persons walking the deck at the time. 
Mr. Tarn, who accompanied Mr. Graves on this occasion, 
brought me a very fine sea-eagle (Polyborus Nove Zealan- 
diz), and some other birds, and a specimen from a shrub which 
we had not before observed, a species of Desfontanea. 
In order to prevent a similar loss in future, the Adelaide 
