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 leave Otaheite without them.  They assured me that they would do everything in their power to have them taken and it was agreed that Oreepyah and Moannah should depart the next morning for Tethuroa.  Oreepyah enquired if they had pocket pistols “for,” said he, “though we may surprise and seize them before they can make use of their muskets, yet if they have pistols they may do mischief, even while they are held.”  I quietened these apprehensions by assuring them that the deserters had no pistols with them.

Tuesday 6.

At daylight Oreepyah and Moannah set off in two canoes for Tethuroa, but the weather became so boisterous that they were obliged to return in the forenoon, and I was happy to see them get safe in as the sea ran very high without the harbour.  From the first of this month the weather and winds had been much unsettled with a great deal of rain.  Our former station at Matavai appeared not at all safe, the sea at times breaking high over the Dolphin bank and making a great swell in the bay.  Oreepyah and Moannah both promised me that they would sail again as soon as the weather should be fine.

Friday 9.

The wind continued to blow strong at sea though in the harbour we had at times but light breezes.  Poeeno, from Matavai, came to see me today:  he said he was apprehensive that I was displeased with him on account of our deserters having been carried to Tethuroa by a canoe from Matavai.  This he declared had been done before he heard of it; and that the only service in his power he had not neglected to do for me, which was the sending our boat back.  As this was really an act of friendship I received him with great cordiality; and he assured me that there could be no doubt from the directions Tinah had given of the deserters being brought to the ship as soon as the weather would admit canoes to go after them.