Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 - No. 0343
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[Page 343]
Otahite
June 1769
only with a peice of Indian cloth after their fashion which I have done ever ever since I had my Jacket &c. stolen at Atahourou. Mathiabo complaind of cold & a cloak was sent for for him also Captn Cooke & myself agreed that he had behavd so well to us that there was not the least doubt of his honesty we laid down Mathiabo did not come I imagin'd that he was gone to wash as the Indians always do in the evening I was almost asleep when an Indian who was a stranger to me came & told me that he was gone off with the Cloak I did not beleive him but laid down again Tuahow our Indian then came & confirmd the report I then found it was high time to give chase so I leapd up & declard my case to the company shewing one of my pocket pistols which I always kept with me. They took the alarm & began to walk of I seizd however the best looking man I could see & told him that if he did not find out where Mathiabo was I would shoot him in his stead the threat had the desird effect he offerd to accompany me in the chase the Captn myself & him set out as hard as we could run & in about ten minutes met a man bringing back the cloak but our freind Mathiabo was fled & by that means escapd a severe thrashing which we had decreed to be a proper reward for his breach of trust. When we returnd every body was gone from the house we quickly however made them sensible that our anger was intirely confind to Mathiabo & they all returnd Wiverou & his wife taking up their lodging within 10 feet of us
29. About 5 O'Clock our sentry awakd us with the alarming