256 TYE AND SUALIB. 



arrival of the others. My own tent was quickly pitched for that pur- 

 pose, and all were snugly slumbering in a short time, except Tom, 

 whose ill-humour would not allow him to take rest. He continued 

 grumbling for some time, and, finding that no notice was taken of him, 

 allowed his moroseness to get the better of him. His complaints be- 

 came so loud as to keep many of us from sleeping, and I was com- 

 pelled to silence him, by threatening to tie him to a tree, and leave 

 him there until our return, if he did not desist. This, with a threat 

 to take a shot at him, brought him to his senses, and in part restored 

 his wonted good-humour. After a rest of two or three hours, most 

 of the boats having joined, we left the island, and reached Sualib Bay 

 at about eight o'clock in the morning. Here I again awaited the 

 arrival of the schooner and boats, which began to drop in. 



The cutter, we found, had been drawn up to a considerable dis- 

 tance, and, the tide being low, there was a wide mud-fiat between her 

 and the place where we lay at anchor, through which a small tortuous 

 creek led up to her. 



The natives of the two towns on each side of the bay, one called 

 Tye and the other Sualib, seemed both to be active in preparing to 

 give us a warm reception. Our interpreter gave me reason to expect 

 that we should not get the boat without a sharp fight, and that she 

 would be perhaps destroyed by fire before we should be able to save 

 her. As it would, in all probability, have been attended with loss 

 of life to make the attempt at low water, I determined to await 

 until the tide rose, and in the mean time to attempt to procure her 

 restoration by negotiation. I therefore sent Whippy and Tom to 

 hold a parley, and to state to the natives, that if they restored the boat 

 and every thing belonging to her, I would, for this time, forgive them. 

 One of their chiefs came half-way to meet Whippy, and, both being 

 unarmed, they held a long conference, during which they occasion- 

 ally referred to their principals. Finally the chiefs agreed to deliver 

 up the boat, which they launched and brought some distance down 

 the creek towards us, whither I sent men to receive her ; but she had 

 nothing in her but her spars : all other articles, of every description, 

 including the men's clothes, books and instruments of the officers, 

 breakers, sails, &c, had been detained. 



My conditions not being complied with, I determined to make an 

 example of these natives, and to show them that they could no longer 

 hope to commit acts of this description without receiving punishment. 



