May 1828. 



ADELAIDE LOSES A BOAT. 



143 



our people, and were apparently very familiar and well-dis- 

 posed. 



But they had cast a longing eye on the whale-boat, which, 

 when equipped for service, contained many things very useful 

 to them, and they laid a plan to carry her off, which succeeded. 

 One evening she v/as prepared for going away at an early hour 

 the following day, and, to save time, every thing that might 

 be required was placed in her, and she was made fast for 

 the night. Two or three Indians were then on board, and 

 observing what was done, laid their plan, and at sunset took 

 their leave as usual. The night was pitchy dark, and at nine 

 o'clock the boat was missed from alongside. The alarm was 

 given, and instant search made at the wigwams of the Indians, 

 who had all decamped, without leaving the least trace of 

 themselves or the boat. The ' painter,' or rope by which 

 she had been fastened to the vessel, had been cut through 

 with some sharp instrument, most probably a knife, which 

 our people had sharpened for them on the grindstone that very 

 day. 



Every possible search was made next morning, but without 

 success; the boat that was left was one which could not be 

 used with any advantage, and Mr. Graves returned to Port 

 Famine. Vexatious as the accident was, I could not blame him 

 for what had occurred, for no one had suspicions of such 

 conduct from the Indians, who, on all other occasions, had kept 

 at a distance from us after night-fall. The boat was properly 

 secured alongside, and the night was so cold that no person 

 would have thought the Indians would expose themselves to 

 such a temperature (28°) ; for they must have swum alongside 

 to cut her adrift, and then must have towed her away very 

 gradually, to prevent the theft being discovered, for there were 

 two persons walking the deck at the time. 



Mr. Tarn, who accompanied Mr. Graves on this occasion, 

 brought me a very fine sea-eagle {Polyhorus Novce Zealan- 

 dicB)^ and some other birds, and a specimen from a shrub which 

 we had not before observed, a species of Desfontanea. 



In order to prevent a similar loss in future, the Adelaide 



