OF LA PEROUSE. 45 



fhe^then approached it with us, and, after hav- 

 ing confidered it with attention, flie named to 

 us the different parts of it, at the fame time 

 pointing them out to us with her hand. 



In a Ihort time we arrived at the entrance of 

 Port D'Entrecafteaux. 



Two of the young girls, being far behind the 

 other natives, were following, without miftrufl, 

 the different windings of the beach with three 

 of our failors, when the latter availed them- 

 felves of one of the moft retired places to be- 

 have to them in a manner much too free ; but 

 they were received f.^.- differently from v,hat 

 they had expeded. Thefe young creatures 

 immediately fled to the rocks which extended 

 f:irtheit into the fca, appearing difpofed to 

 jump into the water, and fwim av/ay, if they 

 had been purfucd ; but they foon repaired to the 

 fpot where we Mere affcmbled with the other 

 favages. It feems that they did not blab this 

 adventure; for the moft perfect underftanding 

 continued to reign between them and us. 



\ViIhing to know if thefe iflandcrs were ex- 

 pert fwimmcrs, one of the officers leaped into 

 tlie water, and dived fevcral times : but it was 

 in vain tiiat he foliciLcd them to follow him ; 

 yet they dive very v. ell, as we afterwards had 

 an oj^poiiunicy of feeing, fmce it is In iliis man- 

 ner that they procure a great par*: of the food 



on 



