OF LA PEROUSE. ^^ 



extremities, when they traverfe the woods. We 

 remarked one of them who walked with diffi- 

 culty, and had one of his feet wrapped up in a 

 piece of Ikin. 



1 had for fome time miiTed the young girls, 

 and thought that they already had all retired into 

 the woods; but, looking behind me, I faw 

 with furprife it::\cn who had gone and perched 

 upon a large branch growing upwards of three 

 meters above the ground, and who, from this 

 litLiation, were obferving our moll trifling 

 motions with much attention: they all kept 

 fcpiatted, and formed a charm.ing group. 



We were very far from the ihorc, where a 

 boat was to wait to take us on board. It was 

 time to fet out on our way thither. We were 

 quitting with regret thefe peaceable natives, 

 when we faw the men and four young lads fepa- 

 rate from their party in order to accompany 

 us. Prefently one of the ftouteft ruilied into 

 the wood, whence he returned almoft immedi- 

 ately, holding in his hand two long darts; but 

 in advancing towards us, he exprelTed to us by 

 figns that we had nothing to fear ; he appeared, 

 on the contrary, defirous of putting us under 

 the protecftion of his arms. It was, no doubt, 

 not to alarm us that he had depofited them in 

 the foreit, when they had come to meet us in 

 the morning. 



VOL. II. D The 



