136 FROM CONCEPTION BAY 



cause it had been swallowed up by the waves. We 

 found the island of Sales in 26° 36' 15" south lati- 

 tude, and longitude, according to the chronometers, 

 which were regulated on Easter Island, 105° 34' 28'' 

 W. I am almost convinced that Wareham's rocks 

 do not exist at all, but have hitherto been con- 

 founded with Sales Island. To be quite certain 

 that there was no other island in this neighbour- 

 hood, I sailed again to the west, and did not direct 

 my course to Easter Island till after having sailed 

 some degrees without perceiving any thing. We had 

 reached this island on the 28th of March, at three 

 o'clock, A.M., within fifteen miles, and, at day- 

 break, we saw it distinctly before us. After having 

 doubled the south point, we directed our course 

 along the west coast, at a small distance, to Cook's 

 Bay, where we observed columns of smoke ascend- 

 ing, which was probably a signal to the inhabitants 

 of the interior of the country that a ship was 

 approaching. At noon, when we were quite near to 

 Cook's Bay, we observed two boats, each manned 

 with only two islanders, who rowed up to us. I 

 was in great hopes that these people, who had placed 

 so much confidence in La Peyrouse, would give us 

 likewise the same hearty welcome, which, to my 

 great astonishment, w^as by no means the case. They 

 approached us with fear and distrust, within gun- 

 shot ; showed us some roots at a distance, but 

 could by no means be persuaded to approach nearer 

 to the ship. The structure of the canoes, of which 



