lanted. The interest of the different chiefs of the neighbourhood was
sought on Omai's behalf, and as it was seen that some of the natives were
inclined to take advantage of his good nature, Cook let it be understood
that if, should he return and find Omai in an satisfactory condition,
some one would feel the weight of his displeasure. Then the most serious
thing that can be brought against Cook's treatment of the natives
occurred. In extenuation it must be remembered that he admits that he was
inclined to be hot-tempered, though it did not last; he had been
constantly irritated by repeated losses, and he was at the time really
seriously ill, and also when all was over he sincerely regretted he had
taken such strong measures.

Mr. Bayley's sextant was stolen from the observatory: Cook at once
demanded from the chiefs that it should be returned, but they paid no
attention. The thief, however, was pointed out, seized, and taken on
board ship; the sextant was recovered, but Cook says, finding the thief
to be "a hardened scoundrel, I punished him with greater severity than I
have ever done any one before, and then dismissed him." He is said to
have had his head shaved and his ears cut off, but Gilbert (midshipman on
the Discovery) says this was not done till he had been rearrested for
damaging Omai's garden, trying to set fire to the house, and threatening
to kill Omai as soon as the ships left. Cook had intended to remove him
from the island, but, being in irons, he stole the keys from a sleeping
guard and made his escape. Omai found that many of the articles which
were practically useless to him, would be appreciated on the ships, so he
very wisely changed them for hatchets and other useful articles. A notice
of the visit with the names of the ships was cut on the end of Omai's
house, and, after firing a salute of five guns, the ships sailed on 2nd
November. Omai accompanied them for a short way, and Mr. King says that
when he parted from Cook he completely broke down and cried all the way
ashore. Cook speaks well of him, saying he seldom had to find fault with
him, that he had many good qualities, but, like the rest of his race, he
lacked powers of observation, application, and perseverance.

DESERTIONS.

On the 3rd they were off Ulietea, and as they were able to run in close
to the shore a staging was erected, and the ballast ports were opened so
as to give the rats, which had become very troublesome, a chance of going