The petty officer whom I sent in quest of the deserters told me that the Natives would give him no intelligence where they were nor those that went along with him but on the contrary grew very troblesome and as they were returning on board in the evening they were suddenly set Siezed upon by a number of arm'd men that had hid themselves in the woods for that purpose this was after Tootaha had been seized upon by us so that they did this by way ^ of retaliation in order to recover their Chief. but this method did not meet with the approbation of them all, a great many condem'd these proceedings and were for having them set at liberty, while others were for keeping them untill Toataha was release'd and the disputes went so far that they came from words to blowes and our people were several times very near being set at liberty. but at last the party for keeping them prevail'd; but as they had still some freinds no insult was offer'd them; a little while after they brought Web and Gibson the two deserters to them as prisioners likwise but at last they agree'd that Web should be sent to inform us where the others were —
When I came to examine these two men touching the reasons that induce'd them to go away, it appear'd that an acquentence they had contracted with two Girls, and to whome they had stron[g]ly attache'd themselves was the sole reason of their attempting to Stay behind. Yesterday we weigh'd the small bower Anchor the Stock of which was so much eaten by the worms as to break in heaving ^ up and to day we hove up the best bower and found the Stock in the very same Condition. This day we got every thing off from the shore and to night everybody lays on board —