392 BASKET—MR. MURRAY. 
they stopped on the first day. Their provisions were all con- 
sumed, two-thirds having been stolen with the boat, and the 
return of the natives, to plunder, and perhaps kill them, was 
expected daily. 
“ The basket, I cannot call it a canoe, left the Cape (now 
doubly deserving of its name) early on the morning of the 
4th, and worked its way slowly and heavily amongst the 
islands, the men having only one biscuit each with them. They 
paddled all day, and the following night, until two o’clock this 
morning (5th), when in passing the cove where the ship lay, 
they heard one of our dogs bark, and found their way to us 
quite worn out by fatigue and hunger. Not a-moment was lost, 
my boat was immediately prepared, and I hastened away with 
a fortnight’s provisions for eleven men, intending to relieve the 
master, and then go in search of the stolen boat. The weather 
was rainy, and the wind fresh and squally ; but at eleven o’clock 
TI reached the cove, having passed to seaward of the cape, 
and there found Mr. Murray anxiously, but doubtfully, await- 
ing my arrival. My first object, after inquiring into the 
business, was to scrutinize minutely the place where the boat 
had been moored, (for I could not believe that she had been 
stolen ;) but I was soon convinced that she had been well 
secured in a perfectly safe place, and that she must, indeed, 
have been taken away, just before daylight, by the natives. 
Her mast and sails, and part of the provisions were in her ; 
but the men’s clothes and the instruments had fortunately been 
landed. It was the usual custom with our boats, when away 
from the ship, to keep a watch at night; but this place ap- 
peared so isolated and desolate, that such a precaution did 
not seem necessary. Had I been with the boat, I should 
probably have lost her in the same manner; for I only kept 
a watch when I thought there was occasion, as I would 
not harass the boat’s crew unnecessarily; and on this exposed 
and sea-beaten island, I shouid not have suspected that In- 
dians would be found. It appeared that a party of them were 
living in two wigwams, in a little cove about a mile from 
that in which our boat lay, and must have seen her arrive ; 
