OF LA PEROUSE. 221 



fmoke rifing in columns from the fires lighted 

 by the favages. Vaft tra(5ls of ground, which 

 appeared cultivated in the loweft fpots, an- 

 nounced a great population. This valley was 

 interrecl:ed by a canal full of water, which we 

 took for a river, and the different branches of 

 which proceeded from the foot of the eaftern 

 mountains J but wedifcovered in the fequel that 

 this canal was filled with flagnant fea-water* 

 We perceived to the fouth-weft the reefs along 

 which we had ranged the preceding year, and 

 we remarked the fame break which the violence 

 of the wind had prevented us from founding. 

 It appeared to us to be likely to afford a fafe 

 paffiige to fliips that wilhed to go and anchor 

 under flielter of thefe fhoals. 



We were now followed by only three natives, 

 who no doubt had feen us a year before fail 

 along the weft coaft of their ifland ; for, before 

 they quitted us they fpokc to us of two fhips 

 which they had obferved on that fide. 



We walked for fome time to the fouth-wefi, 

 on the brow of the mountain ; we then dc- 

 fcendcd into a guHy, where we found two men 

 and a child, v. ho, not being in the leaft alarmed 

 rcfpecling our intentions towards them, did 

 not ftir ho;n the rock on which they were 

 le.itcd. When \\c were quite clofc to them 

 tJiev fliewcd US a bafkct ^Sc'c Piatr XXXl'III. 

 2 ^'^,C'-4-; 



