They afforded frequent opportunities of remarking, how expert they were in the business of stealing.

Even some of the chiefs did not think the profession unbecoming their dignity.

One of them was detected in carrying a bolt out of the ship, concealed under his clothes; for which Captain Cook sentenced him to have a dozen lashes, and kept him confined till he had paid a hog for his liberty.

After this act of justice, our navigators were no longer troubled with thieves of rank: but their servants, or slaves, were still employed in the dirty work; and upon them a flogging seemed to make no greater impression that it would have done upon the mainmast.

When any of them happened to be caught in the act, so far were their masters from interceding in their favour, that they often advised our gentlemen to kill them.