own PeoPIe had been the thieves, the moll diligent fearch
e(ji’ z was tuade for it on board; all the parties however returned
without any news of the quadrant. Mr. Banks, therefore,
who upon fuch occafions declined neither labour nor rilk,
and who had more influence over the Indians than any of
.us, determined to go in fearch of it into the woods; he
hoped, that if it had been ftolen by the natives, he fliould
find it wherever they had opened the box, as they would
immediately difcover that to them it would be wholly ufe-
lefs: or, if in this expectation he fliould be difappointed, that
he might recover it by the afcendancy be had acquired over
*he. Chiefs. He fet out, accompanied by a midlhipman
and Mr. Green, and as he was crofling the river he was met
hy Tubourai Tamaide, who immediately made the figure of
a -triangle with three bits of ftraw upon his hand. By this
Mr. Banks knew that the Indians were the thieves; and that,
although they had opened the cafe, they were not difpofed
to part with the contents. No time was therefore to be loft,
and Mr. Banks made Tubourai Tamaide underftand, that he
tw f t inftantly go with him to the place whither the quadrant
had been carried; he confented, and they fet out together
to the eaftward, the Chief inquiring at every houfe
which they palled after the thief by name: the people readily
told him which way he was gone, and how long it was
fince he had been there: the hope which this gave them that
they fliould overtake him, fupported them under their fatigue,
and they prefied forward, fometimes walking, fometimes
running, though the weather was intolerably hot ■, when
they had climbed a hill at the diftance of about four miles,
their conductor Ihewed them a point full three miles farther,
and gave them to underftand that they were not to
expeCt the inftrument till they had got thither. Here they
paufed; they had no arms, except a pair of piftols, which
Mr,
Mr.Banks- always carried in his pocket; they were going to >769-
a place that was at leaft feven miles diftant from the fort, e— <
where the Indians might be lefs fubmiffive than at home, TucHay 2*'
and to take from them what they had ventured their laves
to g e t; and what, notwithftanding our conjectures, they appeared
defirous to keep: thefe were difcouraging circum-
ffances, and their fituation would become more critical at
every ftep. They determined, however, not to relinquifh
their enterprize, nor to purfue it without taking the bell
meafures for their fecurity that were in their power. It was
therefore determined, that Mr. Banks and Mr. Green fliould:
go on, and that the Midlhipman fliould, return to me, and,
defire that I would fend a party of men after them, acquainting
me at the fame time, that it was impoffible they fliould-
return till it was dark. Upon receiving this meflage I fet our,,
with fuch a party as I thought fufficient for the occalion
leaving orders, both at the Ihip and at. the fort, that no canoe
fliould be fullered to go out of the bay, but that: none-
of the natives fliould be-fei'zed or detained"..
In the mean time,- Mr. Banks and Mr. Green purfued their-
journey, under the aufpices o f Tubourai Tamaide, and in the -
very fpot which he had fpecified, they met one o f his own.
people, with part of the quadrant in his hand.*. At this molt;
welcome fight they flopped; and a great number of-Indians.
immediately eame-up,- fome of whom prefling rather rudely,
upon-them, Mr. Banks thought it neeeflary to-lhew one o f
his piftols, the fight of which reduced them inftantly to order:
as the crowd that gathered round them was-every moment
increafing, he marked out a circle in-the grafs, and-;
they ranged themfelves on the outfide of i t to the number
of feveral hundreds with great quietnefs and decorum. Into«
the middle of this circle, the box, which was now arrived,
was ordered to be brought, with feveral reading glades, and.
other