OF LA PEROUSE. 7 



able on account of its bark, which was about 

 three centimeters thick, and compofed of a 

 great number of fheets, fituated one upon the 

 other, very eafy to feparate, and as thin as the 

 fined China paper. This fingular organiza- 

 tion of bark is met with only in New Holland ; 

 it is much the fame in the eucalyptus refiniftra : 

 I had alfo obferved it on the fouth-well coaft 

 of this fame country in two large trees, one of 

 which belongs to the family of the prote^ey and 

 the other to that of the myrti. 



We foon found a fhed ere(fted as a fhelter 

 againft the ftrong breezes from the fouth-weil. 

 We faw near it a fire, which appeared to have 

 been recently kindled. The natives had left 

 there part of a branch of the fucus palmatusy 

 which they eat after having broiled it, as we had 

 an opportunity of feeing in the fequel. 



The fouth-well wdnd, which had been pre- 

 ceded by a great fall of the mercury in the ba- 

 rometer, blew in the afternoon in impetuous 

 fqualls, that brought us fome rain at the mo- 

 ment we arrived at the fea-fide, quire clofe to 

 the South Cape. A flirub of the family of the 

 rut a tribe fortunately formed here lome very 

 thick tufts, which afforded us excellent fiiclter : 

 this flirub was growing with vigour on thefe 

 elevations, notwithdanding it was cxpofed to 



B 4 all 



