ds to sea. Their hooks
being bright are used without bait in the manner of our artificial flies.
Their rods are made of bamboo; but when there are any very large fish
they make use of an outrigger over the fore part of the canoe, about
twenty-five feet in length, which has two prongs at the extremity, to
each of which is fastened a hook and line; and when a fish takes the hook
it is raised by ropes managed by two men in the stern of the canoe.

January 1789. Thursday 1.

Contrary to my expectation Tinah this afternoon brought on board the
cleaver that had been stolen. The thief had taken it to Attahooroo, and
Tinah told me, which I could easily believe, that it was given up with
reluctance.

Friday 2.

The next morning I offered Tinah a present of axes and other things but,
as he suspected this was meant by way of return for getting the cleaver
restored, he would not be prevailed with to accept a single article.

I had constantly the company of Tinah, his wife, and some of his
relations; but the royal children, though so near us, never came in sight
of the ship. The river separated them from the place occupied by our
people on shore and, for fear of giving alarm or offence, I gave strict
orders that no one should attempt to go near their place of residence.

Monday 5.

At the relief of the watch at four o'clock this morning the small cutter
was missing. I was immediately informed of it and mustered the ship's
company, when it appeared that three men were absent: Charles Churchill,
the ship's corporal and two of the seamen, William Musprat and John
Millward, the latter of whom had been sentinel from twelve to two in the
morning. They had taken with them eight stand of arms and ammunition; but
what their plan was, or which way they had gone, no one on board seemed
to have the least knowledge. I went on shore to the chiefs and soon
received information that the boat was at Matavai; and that the deserters
had departed in a sailing canoe for the island Tethuroa. On this
intelligence I sent the master to Matavai to search for the small cutter,
and one of the chiefs went with him; but before they had got halfway they
met the boat with five of the natives who were bringing her back to the
ship. This service rendered me by the people of Matavai pleased me much
and I rewarded the men accordingly.

I told Tinah and the other chiefs that I expected they would get the
deserters brought back; for that I was determined not to