78 OTAHITE CHAP. V 
more hogs, ete., 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 
