ELLICE’S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 
57 
that he had either been enticed away by the women, or that the 
natives had detained him, in the hopes of receiving a ransom for his 
release, and that he would either return in one of the canoes to the 
ship, or be given up on a rew T ard being offered. Under these impres¬ 
sions, he ordered the boats to return to the ship. Many of the officers 
were of the opinion that he had been murdered; yet it w T as scarcely 
to be believed that they should have been enabled to overcome with¬ 
out noise a w^ell-armed man, and one who had been cautioned against 
their treachery. After they had pushed off some distance, it was 
thought that a white man was seen on the beach; but on returning, it 
proved that they were mistaken. 
On the morning of the 8th, it became evident that something had 
taken place, for not a canoe came alongside before breakfast, which 
induced a general belief that Anderson had met with an untimely 
end at the hands of the natives. The people of the adjoining town 
of Eta, however, so far as they could be understood from their ges¬ 
tures and language, seemed to intimate that the man was on shore 
alive. Not a canoe, however, was recognised as belonging to the 
town of Utiroa. A message was (notwithstanding the two towns 
w T ere at war) sent on shore, in hopes it would induce these savages 
to restore Anderson, telling them that if the man was given back, a 
large present of tobacco would be paid for him. This was shown 
them, and every endeavour was made to ascertain his fate. On look¬ 
ing around among the natives, attention was called to one who was 
believed to belong to Utiroa. The eagerness with which this man was 
regarded by all, caused him so much alarm, that he at once sought 
flight in his canoe; but he could not get his sail arranged, and was 
soon overtaken by one of the ship’s boats. The countenance of the 
native, on being overtaken, was one of great fear. On finding he 
could not escape, it immediately changed to one the most amiable and 
friendly. He began by saying that the boat was good, the ship was 
good and large, and all that was in her was good. Mr. Hale ex¬ 
plained to him what was required of him. It was difficult to ascertain 
that he understood these things at the time, for the native was inclined 
to assent to every thing; but Mr. Hale has since had reason to be 
satisfied from the words he used that the object in view, of obtaining 
Anderson, was well understood. 
The whole of the day w r as occupied in surveying, and connecting 
the work with that of the tender, which vessel, with the boats, had 
returned in the morning. The surveying boats, while engaged, were 
satisfied that the natives were disposed to be hostile. 
Their visiters during the day were all from the other parts of the 
VOL. v. 8 
