OF LA PEROUSE. 5^ 



boat to go on board of the Recherche. He 

 got up the fide with an air of confidence, and 

 examined the fliip throughout with a great deal 

 of attention : he then principally direcTced his 

 looks towards fuch articles of food as fell in his 

 way. Guided by the analogy that exifts be- 

 tween the fhape of the black fwans of Cape 

 Diemen, and that of the Guinea geefe which he 

 faw on board, he afked us for one, giving us 

 to underfland that it was to eat it. When he 

 came oppofite to our fowl-coops, he appeared 

 fl:ruck with the beauty of a very large cock : it 

 was oftered to him; and, on receiving it, he let 

 us know he would not be long in broiling it to 

 eat. He was loaded with prefents. After hav- 

 ing remained in the fhip for upwards of half an 

 hour, he afked to go back, and he was imme- 

 diately conveyed on fhore. We had taken thi- 

 ther a monkey, which amufcd thefe favages ex- 

 ceedingly ; and one of our men had carried with 

 him a kid, which for fome time was the fub- 

 jc^l; of their converfation ; they now and then 

 addrellcd their difcourfe to it, faying, Medi, 

 (re If yoiirfclfj 



They have ailigned particular names to each 

 vegetable. We convinced ourfclves that their 

 knowledge in botany is invariable, by afking 

 fevcral of them, and at different times, the 

 names of the fame plants. 



In 



