OF LA PEROUSE* I7 



The day was already far advanced, -vvhcn we 

 reached the fummit of a mountain, whence we 

 perceived the whole extent of a very long val- 

 ley, which we were yet obliged to crofs before 

 we could arrive at the foot of the mountain 

 we had intended to vifit. The interval which. 

 feparated us from it, appeared to be about three 

 myriameters ; and this fpace was occupied by 

 forefls as thick as that through which we had juO: 

 palTed. It was doubtful whether we fhould not 

 fpend upwards of two days in attaining the ob- 

 jed: we had propofed, even on the fuppofi- 

 tion that our progrefs fliould not be retarded by 

 large marflies, or other obftacles impofTible to 

 forcfee. It would have required nearly the 

 fame time to return : accordinjjj to this calcuia- 

 tion, we fliould for three days have been i:i 

 want of provifions ; befides, thefe forcfts did 

 not afford us the fmalleft means of fubfiftencc : 

 wc V, ere therefore obi io-ed to renounce our pro- 

 jecfi:. 



The great chain of mountains appeared to 

 extend to a vafl: diftance, in a direction from 

 north-eaft to fouth-wefl. 



We found, in the forefls which wc had juft 

 traverfed, tlie fame forts of ftones that we had 

 already met with about the South Cape. We 

 faw this cape to the fouth by eaft : we followed 

 that direclion, and went to pafs the night on 



^ OL. Li. c the 



