him several times with his own hanger, but happily did him no harm.  As soon as they had accomplished their end, they made off; after which another of the natives brought a piece of cloth to cover him, and conducted him to the trading place, where were a great number of the inhabitants.  The very instant Mr Sparrman appeared in the condition I have just mentioned, they all fled with the utmost precipitation.  I at first conjectured they had stolen something; but we were soon undeceived upon Mr Sparrman’s relating the affair to us.  As soon as I could recal a few of the natives, and had made them sensible that I should take no step to injure those who were innocent, I went to Oree to complain of this outrage, taking with us the man who came back with Mr Sparrman, to confirm the complaint.  As soon as the chief heard the whole affair related, he wept aloud, as did many others.  After the first transports of his grief were over, he began to expostulate with his people, telling them (as far as we could understand) how well I had treated them, both in this and my former voyage, and how base it was in them to commit such actions.  He then took a very minute account of the things Mr Sparrman had been robbed of, promised to do all in his power to recover them, and, rising up, desired me to follow him to my boat.  When the people saw this, being, as I supposed, apprehensive of his safety, they used every argument to dissuade him from what they, no doubt, thought a rash step.  He hastened into the boat, notwithstanding all they could do or say.  As soon as they saw their beloved chief wholly in my power, they set up a great outcry.  The grief they shewed was inexpressible; every face was bedewed with tears; they prayed, entreated, nay, attempted to pull him out of the boat.  I even joined my entreaties to theirs; for I could not bear to see them in such distress.  All that could be said, or done, availed nothing.  He insisted on my coming into the boat, which was no sooner done than he ordered it to be put off.  His sister, with a spirit equal to that of her royal brother, was the only person who did not oppose his going.  As his intention in coming into our boat was to go with us in search of the robbers, we proceeded accordingly as far as was convenient by water, then landed, entered the country, and travelled some miles inland, the chief leading the way, enquiring of every one he saw.  At length he stepped into a house by the road side, ordered some cocoa-nuts for us, and after we were a little refreshed, wanted to proceed still farther.  But this I opposed, thinking that we might be carried to the very farthest end of the island, after things, the most of which, before they came into our hands again, might not be worth the bringing home.  The chief used many arguments to persuade me to proceed, telling me that I might send my boat round to meet us, or that he would get a canoe to bring us home, if I thought it too far to travel.  But I was resolved to return, and he was obliged to comply and