392 



BASKET MK. MURRAY. 



they stopped on the first day. Their provisions were all con- 

 sumed, two-thirds havhig been stolen with the boat, and the 

 return of the natives, to plunder, and perhaps kill them, was 

 expected daily. 



" The basket, I cannot call it a canoe, left the Cape (now 

 doubly deserving of its name) early on the morning of the 

 4th, and worked its way slowly and heavily amongst the 

 islands, the men having only one biscuit each with them. They 

 paddled all day, and the following night, until two o'clock this 

 morning (5th), when in passing the cove where the ship lay, 

 they heard one of our dogs bark, and found their way to us 

 quite worn out by fatigue and hunger. Not a moment was lost, 

 my boat was immediately prepared, and I hastened away with 

 a fortnight's provisions for eleven men, intending to relieve the 

 master, and then go in search of the stolen boat. The weather 

 was rainy, and the wind fresh and squally ; but at eleven o'clock 

 I reached the cove, having passed to seaward of the cape, 

 and there found Mr. Murray anxiously, but doubtfully, await- 

 ing my arrival. My first object, after inquiring into the 

 business, was to scrutinize minutely the place where the boat 

 had been moored, (for I could not believe that she had been 

 stolen ;) but I was soon convinced that she had been well 

 secured in a perfectly safe place, and that she must, indeed, 

 have been taken away, just before daylight, by the natives. 

 Her mast and sails, and part of the provisions were in her ; 

 but the men's clothes and the instruments had fortunately been 

 landed. It was the usual custom with our boats, when away 

 from the ship, to keep a watch at night ; but this place ap- 

 peared so isolated and desolate, that such a precaution did 

 not seem necessary. Had I been with the boat, 1 should 

 probably have lost her in the same manner ; for I only kept 

 a watch when I thought there was occasion, as I would 

 not harass the boat's crew unnecessarily ; and on this exposed 

 and sea-beaten island, I should not have suspected that In- 

 dians would be found. It appeared that a party of them were 

 living in two wigwams, in a little cove about a mile from 

 that in which our boat lay, and must have seen her arrive ; 



