PLUNDERED BY NATIVES. 
143 
had been in my tent, certainly not exceeding half 
an hour. The night was very windy and I had 
heard nothing, besides I was encamped in the midst 
of a very dense brush of large wide-spreading tea- 
trees and other bushes, any of which would afford a 
screen for a considerable number of natives. In day- 
light it was impossible to see many yards in distance, 
and nothing could be discerned at night. 
The natives must have watched the dray go away 
in the morning, and waited until dark for their 
opportunity to rob me ; and most daringly and 
effectually had they done it. At the time that I lay 
on the ground, taking the star’s altitude, they must 
have been close to me, and after I went into the tent, 
they doubtless saw me sitting there by the light of 
the candle, since the door was not quite closed, and 
they had come quite in front to obtain some of the 
things they had stolen. The only wonder with me 
was that they had not speared me, as they could 
scarcely have been intimidated by my individual 
presence. 
As soon as I missed my horizon glass, and enter- 
tained the suspicion of natives being about, I hurried 
into the tent and lighting a large blue light, run 
with it rapidly through the bushes around me. The 
effect of this was very beautiful amidst the darkness 
and gloom of the woods, and for a great distance in 
every direction objects could be seen as well as by 
day ; the natives, however, were gone, and I could 
only console myself by firing a couple of balls after 
