100 OTAHITE CHAP, V 
to every one that the boats should not stir until all the 
things were brought back. A list of the articles was im- 
mediately drawn up and read several times to the Indians, 
who at once promised that everything should be returned. 
Great application was made to me on my arrival that some 
of the boats might be released. I did not until I got to the 
fort understand the reason of their detention, but when I 
did nothing appeared plainer than that no one of them should - 
on any account be given up from favour, but that the whole 
should be kept till the things were restored—if ever they 
were—which I much doubted, as the canoes did not belong 
to the people who had the articles. I confess, that had I 
taken a step so violent, I would have seized either the 
persons of the people who had stolen from us (most of whom 
we either knew, or shrewdly suspected), or at least their 
goods, instead of those of people who were entirely uncon- 
cerned in the affair, and had not probably interest enough 
with their superiors (to whom all valuable things are carried) 
to procure the restoration demanded. 
17th. Mr. Gore and myself went to Eparre to shoot 
ducks, little thinking what the consequence of our expedi- 
tion would be; for before we had half filled our bags we had 
frightened away Dootahah and all his household with their 
furniture. It was no small diversion to us to find his 
Majesty so much more fearful than his ducks. 
20th. This morning early Oborea and some others came 
to the tents, bringing a large quantity of provisions as a 
present, among the rest a very fat dog. We had lately 
learnt that these animals were eaten by the Indians, and 
esteemed more delicate food than pork; now therefore was 
an opportunity of trying the experiment. The dog was im- 
mediately given over to Tupia, who, finding that it was a 
food that we were not accustomed to, undertook to stand 
butcher and cook. He killed the animal by stopping his 
breath, holding his hands fast over his mouth and nose, an 
operation which took more than a quarter of an hour: he 
then proceeded to dress him much in the same manner as 
we would do a pig, singeing him over the fire and scraping 
