M. FRANCOIS PERON. 25 



He spent many days in penetrating into the inte- 

 rior of the island, and in examining the aborigines. 

 Though he did not understand their language, ne 

 possessed such a ready power in comprehending 

 their gestures, and the inarticulate language of na- 

 ture, that, to a great extent, he understood them ; 

 and he had the same success with the savages of 

 New Holland and Van Dieman's Land. 



Struck with the fact that, during their stay at 

 Timor, his companions were almost all sick, whilst 

 the natives were not suffering, he set himself to in- 

 vestigate the cause of the difference, and discovered 

 it in the use which the inhabitants make of Betel, 

 or water-pepper. 



On leaving Timor, they sailed direct for the 

 South Cape of Van Dieman's Land. After having 

 surveyed its Eastern portion, they entered the Bass 

 Straits, and then followed the South Coast of New 

 Holland. Here they suffered extremely ; and when 

 they reached Port Jackson, their condition, from 

 privation and disease, was such, that only four of 

 the crew could perform duty; so that, had they 

 been detained a few days longer at sea, they must 

 all have perished. 



On reaching this friendly port, Peron again found 

 himself in the midst of civilized society, and re- 

 ceived many marks of kindness and consideration. 

 But instead of resting from his fatigues, he only 

 enlarged the limits of his labours. He prosecuted 

 his researches into the physical history of man, by 

 studying the civil and political constitution of this 



