C HA P . XIII.
Another V i f t to Toot ah ah, with various A dv entu res: E x traordinary
Amufement o f the Indians, w ith Remarks
upon it t Preparations to obferve the Tran f t o f Venus,
and what happened in the mean time at the Fort.
1769. / \ N the 27th, it was determined that we ffiould pay our
> *-y.' t vifit to Tootahah, though we were not very confident
Saturday 27, that we fhould receive the hogs for our pains. I therefore
fet out early in the morning, with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solan-
der, and three others, in the pinnace. He was now removed
from Tettahah, where Mr. Hicks had feen him, to a place
called A tabourov, about fix miles farther, and as we could
not go above half way thither in the boat, it was almoffc
evening before we arrived : we found him in his ufual ftate,,
fitting under a tree, with a great crowd about him.. We
made our prefents iti due form, confifting of a yellow fluff
petticoat, and fome other trifling articles, which were gra*-
cioufly received; a hog was immediately ordered to be killed,
and drefled for fupper, with a promife of more in the morning:
however, as we were lefs defirous of feafting upon our.
journey than of carrying back With us provifions, which
would be more welcome at the fort, we procured a reprieve
for the hog, and fupped upon the fruits of the country. As
night now came on, and the place was crowded with many
more than the houfes and canoes would contain ; there being
Oberea with her attendants, and many other travellers whom
we knew, we began to look out for lodgings. Our party
confided
confifled of fix: Mr. Banks thought himfelf fortunate in be- >769.
ing offered a place by Oberea in her canoe, and wifhing his ■ ■
friends a good night, took his leave. He went to reft early, Saturd,)'
according to the cuftom of the country, and taking off his
clothes, as was his conftant practice, the nights being hot,
Oberea kindly infifted upon taking them into her own cufto-
dy, for otherwife fhe faid they would certainly be ftolen.
Mr. Banks having fuch a fafeguard, refigned himfelf to fleep
with all imaginable tranquillity : but awaking about eleven
o’clock, and wanting to get up, he fearched for his clothes
where he had feen them depofited by Oberea when he lay
down to fleep, and foon perceived that they were miffing.
He immediately awakened Oberea, who ftarting up, and
hearing his complaint, ordered lights, and prepared in great
hafte to recover what he had loft: Tootahah himfelf flept in
the next canoe, and being foon alarmed, he came to them
and fet out with Oberea in fearch of the thief: Mr. Banks
was not in a condition to go with them, for of his apparel
fcarce any thing was left him but his breeches; his coat, and
his waiftcoat, with his piftols, powder-horn, and many other
things that were in the pockets, were gone. In about half
an hour his two noble friends returned, but without having
obtained any intelligence of his clothes or of the thief. At
firft he began to be alarmed, his mufquet had not indeed
been taken away, but he had neglected to load it ; where I
and Dr. Solander had difpofed of ourfelves he did not know;
and therefore, whatever might happen, he could not have
recourfe to us for affiftance. He thought it beft, however, to
exprefs neither fear nor fufpicion of thofe about him, and
giving his mufquet to Tupia, who had been waked in the
confufion and flood by him, with a charge not to fuffer it to
be ftolen, he betook himfelf again to reft, declaring himfelf
perfectly fatisfied with the pains that Tootahah and Oberea
S 3 had