OF LA PEROUSE. Qsj 



ITc fcated himfclf on the feat appropriated 

 for the oflicer of the watch, with four of the 

 natives, and ordered all the others to fquat, 

 except a few whom he permitted to lit down 

 on tlie arm-chell. I know not whether thefc 

 laft were perfons of confequence ; but we re- 

 marked among them a man advanced in years, 

 who v.as followed by a young girl, and who em- 

 ployed all his eloquence to tempt thofe among 

 us that came near her. 



FccncH mnde the Admiral a prefent of the 

 largeft: hog that we had yet ^gqw fince \\e had 

 been at the anchorage ; he alfo gave him two 

 very handfoiiie clubs, made of cafiiarina wood, 

 in which were fcen incruftated flat pieces of 

 bone, fome cut circularly, fome in the fliapc 

 of (iar-fifh, and others reprefenting birds, but 

 very indiiferently defigncd. This chief ap- 

 peared very well fatisfied when the Admiral 

 prefentcd him Vvith a hatchet, a large piece of 

 red cloth, and fome nails. To tcflify his gra- 

 titude, he immediately applied each of thefe 

 articles to the left fide of his forehead, afcer 

 having rcreivcd them with the left hand. 



Towards fuii-fet wc begged him to ^q\\<\ away 

 from our lliip all the natives, the rrov/d of 

 whom was become prodigious. We w illicd that 

 none iliould remain on l-)oard, tha: .v.e might 

 .':or. have the trouble of keeping v.atch over 

 2 them 



