Joseph Banks - Endeavour Journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0294
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[Page 294]
Georges Land
so much given up to
Last night Dr Solander lent his knife to one of Lycurgus's women who forgot to return it this morn mine was missing I could give no account of it so resolvd to go to Lycurgus & ask him whether or not he had stole it trusting that if he had he would return it
I went & taxd him with it he denyd knowing any thing concerning it I told him I was resolvd to have it returnd on this a man present produc'd a rag in which was tied up 3 knives one was Dr Solanders the other a table knife the other no one laid claim to with these he marchd to the tents to make restitution while I remaind with the women who much feard that he would be hurt when come there he restord the two knives to their proper owners & began immediately to search for mine in all the places where he had ever seen it lay one of my servants seeing what he was about brought it to him he had it seems laid it by the day before & did not know of my missing it Lycurgus then burst into tears making signs with my knife that if he was ever guilty of such an action he would submit to have his throat cut he returnd immediately to me with a countenance sufficiently upbraiding me for my suspicions the scene was immediately changd I became the guilty & he the innocent person his looks affected me much a few presents however & staying a little with him reconcild him intirely his behavior has however given me an opinion of him much superior to any of his countreymen
26. Plenty of trade this morn indeed we have always had enough of bread fruit & cocoa nuts refreshments maybe more nescessary for the people than pork tho they certainly do not like them so well.