Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0311
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[Page 311]
Otahite
May 1769
back Tubourai & Tomio & having seated them in the tent plac'd myself between them during the whole service they imitated my motions standing setting or kneeling as they saw me do & so much understood that we were about something very serious that they calld to the Indians without the fort to be silent notwisthstanding this they did not when the service was over ask any questions nor would they attend at all to any explanation we attempted to give them we have not yet seen the least traces of religion among these people maybe they are intirely wihout it
15. In the course of last night one of the Indians was clever enough to steal an Iron bound cask it was indeed without the fort but so immediately under the eye of the Sentry that we could hardly beleive the possibility of such a thing having when we lookd at the place the Indians however acknowledg'd it & seemd inclind to give intelligence in consequence of which I set off in pursuit of it & tracd it to a part of the bay where they told me it had been put into a canoe. The thing was not of consequence enough to pursue with any great spirit so I returnd home where I found Oborea Otheothea &c. at night Tubourai made many signs that another cask would be stole before morning & thinking I suppose that we did not sufficiently regard them himself his wife & family came to the place where the cask lay & making their beds said that they would themselves take care that no one should steal them on being told this I went to them & explaining to them that a Sentry was this night put over those particular casks they agreed to come & sleep in my tent but insisted upon leaving a servant to assist the sentry in case the theif came which he did about 12 & was seen by the Sentry who fird at him on which he retreated most expeditiously