Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0313
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 313]
Otahite
May 1769
I thought it nesscessary after this discovery to bring the offender to the tents to receive judgement which I did Every body there was of opinion that his fault was pardonable I confess that upon thinking over the circumstances I blam'd myself more for leaving the nails in his way than him for stealing them it was therefore resolvd that if he brought back the other 4 he should be forgiven & his fault forgot this I told him & he agreed readily but instead of performing his part he & his family movd off before night taking with them all their furniture
20. Rain & very disagreeable weather so that we had but little trade about 10 Oborea came to the fort & brough a large present of bread fruit she had with her Otheothea & her other maids of honour as we call them but Obadee her gentleman attendant was absent we enquird the reason she told us that she had dismiss'd him about 8 however he came by torch light & going to the house in the woods where she slept slept with her.
21. Sunday, Divine service performd at which was present Oborea Otheothea Obadee &c. all behav'd very decently after dinner Obadee who had been for some time absent returnd to the fort Oborea desird he might not be let in his countenance was however so melancholy that we could not but admit him he lookd most piteously at Oborea she most disdainfully at him she seems to us to act in the character of a Ninon d'Enclos who satiated with her lover resolves to change him at all Events the more so as I am offerd if I please to supply his place but I am at present otherwise engag'd indeed was I free as air her majesties person is not the most desireable