OF LA PEROUSE. 229 



had repeatedly vilited us on board the Re- 

 cherche. Several of them pointed him out to 

 us as a very celebrated chief, whom they diftin- 

 guiflied by the name of Alikee. 



We halted on the banks of this little river in 

 order to take our breakfall ; bur wifhing to be 

 fecure againft any furprife on the part of the 

 favages, we prevailed on them to fit down. Alikec 

 immediately complied with our requefi:, and 

 all the others followed his example. The wa- 

 ter being a few )ards below us, fome of the 

 favages were at the trouble to fill our bottles as 

 fart as we emptied them. 



After breakfaft, we proceeded to the fouth- 

 ward, accompanied by Alikce and three other 

 natives, who had fliewn much inclination to 

 follow us. Plantain-trees and cocoa-palms 

 growing on the lealt rtcep fides of the gully dug 

 by the waters of the little river, announced to 

 us the refidence of fome natives. We there 

 found a hut perfectly limilar to thofe which we 

 had before met Vv ith. Alikce told us that it be- 

 longed to him. It was furrounded by fome 

 new fpecies of fig-trce, the fruits of which thefe 

 people rat, after having expofcd them to the 

 lire tor fonie time in earthen vcliels, in order 

 to rake away their corroiive qiialit}'. 



Abc'ji rcn o'.lock in the n.orning, fome 

 c<ci;u>. brought by :i frclli fouLii-curt wind, co- 



Q. ? vcred 



