fruit, and roots, and in great plenty. Lieutenant Pickerf-
gill being again fent with the two boats, in fearch of hogs,
returned in the evening with twenty-eight; and about four
times that number were purchafed on Ihore, and along-iide.
the fliips,
Monday 6. Next morning the trading party, confiftingof only two or
three people, were fent on ffiore as ufual; and, after break--
fail, I went to the place myfelf, when I learnt that one of
the inhabitants had been very troublefome and infolent.
This man being pointed out to me, completely equipped in
the war habit with a club in each hand, as he feemed bent
on mifchief, I took thefe from him, broke them before lus
eyes, and, with fome difficulty, forced him to retire from the
place. As they told me that he was a chief, this made me
the more fufpicious of him, and occafioned me to fend foe
a guard, which till now I had thought unncceflary. About
this time, Mr. Sparrman, having imprudently gone out
alone botanizing, was fet upon by two men, who Gripped
him of every thing he had about him, except his trowfers,
and ftruck him feveral times with his own hanger, but happily
did him no harm.. As foon as they had accomplifhed their
end, they made off; after which another of the natives,
brought a piece of cloth to cover him, and.conducted him to
the trading place, where were a great number of the inhabitants.
The very inftant Mr. Sparrman appeared in the condition
I have juft mentioned, they fled to a man with the
utmoft precipitation. My firft conjectures were, that they
had ftolen fomething; but we were foon undeceived, when
we faw Mr. Sparrman, and the affair was related' to us. As
foon as I could recal a few of the natives, and had made-
them fenlible that I fhould take no ftep to injure thofewha
who were innocent, I went to Oree to complain of this outrage,
taking with us the man who came back with Mr.
Sparrman, to confirm the complaint. As foon as the chief
heard the whole affair related, he wept aloud, as did many
others. After the firft tranfports of his grief were over, he
began to expoftulate with his people, telling them (as far
as we could underftandj how well I had treated them, both
in this and my former voyage, and how bafe it was in them
to commit fuch actions. He then took a very minute account
of the things Mr. Sparrman had been robbed of, promifed
to do all in his power to recover them, and riling up, defired
me. to follow him to my boat. . When the people faw this,
being, as I fuppofed, apprehenfive of his fafety, they ufed
every argument to diffuade him ‘from what they, no doubt,
thought a raffi ftep. He haftened into the boat, notwith-
ftanding all they could do or fay. As foon as they faw their,
beloved chief wholly in my power, they fet up a great outcry.
The grief they fhewed was inexpreffible; every face
was bedewed with tears ; they prayed, entreated, nay attempted
to pull him out of the boat. I even joined my entreaties
to theirs ; for 1 could not bear to fee them in fuch
diftrefs. All that could be faid, or done, availed nothing.,
He infilled on my coming into the boat, which was no fooner-
done than he ordered it to be put. off. His filter, with a.
fpirit equal to that of her royal brother, was the only perfon
who did not oppofe his going.. As his intention in coming
into our boat was to go with us in fearch of the robbers, we
proceeded accordingly as far as it was convenient by water,
then landed, entered the country, and travelled fome miles inland,
the chief leading the way, inquiring of every one he
faw. At length he ftepped into a houfe.by the road fide,
ordered fome cocoa-nuts for us, and after we were a little:
„ ' 773-
September.
Monday 6.1
refrelhedj,