OF LA PEROUSE, 2O3 



tations of yams and fwcet potatoes : we then 

 reached the foot of the mountains, where we 

 found ten of the inhabitants, who accompanied 

 us. Prefently we Huv fome of them climb trees 

 of the fpecies known under the nameof /j'yZv/t-^i 

 iiliaceuby the young flioots of which they imme- 

 diately chewed in order to exprefs the mucilage 

 contained in their bark. Others gathered the 

 fruit of the cordia febcjlana^ which they ate 

 to the very ftone. We little expected to fee 

 cannibals contented with fo frugal a rc- 

 pad. 



The heat was exccfTivc, and we had not yc'c 

 found any water. We followed a gully, where 

 we remarked the traces of a torrent which here 

 falls in the rainy feafon : the verdure of the 

 flirubs which we obferved for fome diftance 

 from its banks, gave us hopes to find there a 

 fpring at which we might quench our thirit; 

 and in fiCl, as foon as we reached it, we Hiw a 

 very limpid ftreamlet ifPue from the bottom of 

 an enormous rock of fand-ftone, v. hence it 

 flowed, and filied a great caviry made in a 

 block of [he lam.e fort of lione. We (lopped 

 at this pl.icc, and the natives came and fat down 

 by us. V. e gave them fomic bifcuit, which they 

 readily ate, though it was a good deal worm.- 

 caten ; but they would not talie our cheefe : we 

 had^ however, nothing eUc to olicr them. They 



preferred 



