In due time the boat returned, laden with water, which was immediately
hoisted on board; and the chief and his men were despatched a second
time on the same errand. Meanwhile, the rest of the natives continued to
take pigs to the ship in considerable numbers; and by the close of the
day about two hundred had been purchased, together with a quantity of
fern-root to feed them on.

Up to this time, therefore, no hostile disposition had been manifested
by the savages; and their intercourse with the ship had been carried on
with every appearance of friendship and cordiality, if we except the
propensity they had shown to pilfer a few of the tempting rarities
exhibited to them by their civilised visitors. Their conduct as to this
matter ought perhaps to be taken rather as an evidence that they had not
as yet formed any design of attacking the vessel, as they would, in that
case, scarcely have taken the trouble of stealing a small part of what
they meant immediately to seize upon altogether. On the other hand, such
an infraction of the rules of hospitality would not have accorded with
that system of insidious kindness by which it is their practice to lull
the suspicions of those whom they are on the watch to destroy.

During the night, however, the thieving was renewed, and carried to a
more alarming extent, inasmuch as it was found in the morning that some
of the natives had not only stolen the lead off the ship's stern, but
had also cut away many of the ropes, and carried them off in their
canoes. It was not till daybreak, too, that the chief returned with his
second cargo of water; and it was then observed that the ship's boat he
had taken with him leaked a great deal; on which the carpenter examined
her, and found that a great many of the nails had been drawn out of her
planks.