OF LA PEROUSE, 



'73 



tilities are at an end, there is carried on between 

 them a very confiderable trade. 



The Admiral received as a prefent from Fut^ 

 tafaihe, a fmall canoe with an outrigger^ newly 

 built, which was immediately flowed near the 

 main chains. It was three meters Ions:, three 

 decimeters broad, and could carry only two 

 perfons. The canoes of this fort are decked 

 nearly a fifth of their length at each end, which is 

 fulTicient to enable to pafs in fafety among the 

 reefs ; but their double canoes, being intended 

 for navigating in the open fea, are decked fore 

 and aft, except towards the middle, where a fmall 

 aperture is rcferved for going down to bale 

 them out when any water has colle(5led below. 



I faw with admiration that thefe people had 

 confultcd nature in the condruccion of tiicir 

 faft-failing canoes. The boctom pretty much 

 refenibled the lower part of one cf the cetaceous 

 ftflies, A\hJch fwims w ith the greatefl fwiftnefs, 

 darting forward by leaps to the furface of the 

 waters, the dclphinus del phis. 



Kin^j; Tjoh::, havinc; learnt that we were fnortl v 

 to quit his iiland, came on the 8th to perfuade 

 us to defer our departure; and he appeared \q^j 

 much concerned at our determination to fail. 



The natives thought, no doubt, th.it \\t 

 Vv-illied to lay in a great flock of bread-fruit, 

 io: they brought to our market much more than 



ordinary; 



