APR. 1769 THEFTS OF THE NATIVES 77 
it back, and by signs told him that I wanted nothing but 
our own, which his people had stolen: on this he gave me 
into the charge of my faithful companion his wife, who had 
never budged an inch from my elbow. With her I sat 
down on the mat, and conversed by signs for nearly half an 
hour, after which time the chief came back bringing the 
snuff-box and the case of the opera-glass, which, with vast 
pleasure in his countenance, he returned to the owners; but 
his face changed when he was shown that the case was 
empty. He then took me by the hand and walked along 
shore with great rapidity about a mile; on the way he re- 
received a piece of cloth from a woman which he carried in 
his hand. At last we came to a house in which we were 
received by a woman: to her he gave the cloth and told us 
to give her some beads. The cloth and beads were left on 
the floor by us, and she went out and returned in about a 
quarter of an hour, bringing the glass in her hand, with a 
vast expression of joy on her countenance, for few faces have 
I seen with more expression in them than those of these 
people. The beads were now returned with a positive 
resolution of not accepting them, and the cloth was as 
resolutely forced upon Dr. Solander as a recompense for his 
loss; he then made a present of beads to the lady. Our 
ceremonies ended, we returned to the ship, admiring a 
policy, at least equal to any one we had seen in civilised 
countries, exercised by people who have never had any 
advantage but mere natural interest uninstructed by the 
example of any civilised country. 
15th. This morning we landed at the watering-place, 
bringing with us a small tent, which we set up. Whilst 
doing this we were attended by some hundreds of the natives, 
who showed a deference and respect to us which much 
amazed me. I drew a line before them with the butt end 
of my musket, and made signs to them to sit down without 
it. They obeyed instantly, and not a man attempted to set 
a foot within it. Above two hours were thus spent, and 
not the least disorder being committed, we proposed to 
walk into the woods and see if to-day we might not find 
