314 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



to the culture of their lands, which arc befide? 

 very fteril. 



It is to be remarked, that undoubtedly the 

 inhabitants of New Caledonia have made choice 

 of the fteatite, of which I have been fpeaking, 

 only becaufe, from its great friability, it does 

 not remain long in their ftoniach and inteltines. 

 I fhould never have imagined that canni- 

 bals would have recourfe to fuch an expedient 

 when prefled by hunger. 



Three women having come and joined the 

 other favages who furrounded us, gave us no 

 very favourable idea of their mulic : they fang 

 a trio, keeping very good time, but the harfh- 

 nefs and difcordance of their voices excited in 

 us very difagrceable fenfations ; however the 

 favages appeared to hear them with a great deal 

 of pleafure. 



Lahaie the gardener and I ventured into the 

 middle of the woods, accompanied only by two 

 of our people. We preferred going to thofe 

 places where we were in hopes of meeting but 

 with few of the natives : the latter took care to 

 crouch among the underwood when they faw 

 us ; at other times they kept behind large trees, 

 round which they turned as we ftepped on : 

 however an old man finding us advance on both 

 fides of the tree behind which he was con- 

 r^aled, and not being able to avoid being dif- 



covered^ 



