23S VOYAGE IN SEARCfl 



on the coals and ate, but we found their flefh 

 very tough, and by no means well-flavoured. 



We had proceeded to the diftance of above two 

 myriameters from our fliips, when frefh traces 

 of devaftation made us again lament the fate of 

 thefe unfortunate inhabitants, whom revenge 

 often hurries to the mod horrible excefles. 

 They had deflroyed all the principal habita- 

 tion, and topped all the cocoa-nut trees fur- 

 rounding it ; only they had fpared two fmall 

 flieds covered with the fungous bark of the 

 melaleuca latifolia. 



Prefently a foreft of cocoa-palms, the tops 

 of which we difcovered a demi-myriameter to 

 the wcftward, and the fmoke which was there 

 afcending in a column from different points 

 announced to us a numerous population. We 

 direcT:ed our courfe for fome time towards this 

 place, but the marfhes which we were obliged 

 to crofs in order to reach it, made us abandon 

 our plan ; belides the day was far fpent. We 

 therefore proceeded towards the fouth, in fearch 

 of a convenient fpot where we might pafs the 

 night, and we fhortly fixed upon an eminence, 

 the difficult accefs to which fecured us from 

 the danger of any furprife on the part of the 

 favages. We lighted a fire; for on thcfe heights 

 it was piercing cold, and of this we were the 

 more fcnfible as we had experienced in the 



plain 



