OF LA PEP.OUSE. 247 



ifland from which they came was fituated to the 

 eaflward, a day's fail from our anchorage, and 

 was called Aoiivea. It was undoubtedly the 

 Ifland of Beaupre that they meant. 



Thefe iflanders, who were entirely naked, had 

 the extremity of the prepuce confined againfl: 

 the abdomen by a cord of cocoa-nut bafs, 

 which went twice round him. They were ac- 

 quainted with the ufe of iron, and appeared to 

 us much more intelligent than the favages of 

 New Caledonia. 



I was not a little furprifed to fee one of the 

 planks of their canoe paid with a coat of var- 

 nifh. It appeared to have belonged to fome 

 European Ihip, and of this I had no doubt 

 when I difcovered that white lead had formed 

 a principal ingredient in the compolition of 

 the varnifli. This plank undoubtedly came 

 from a fhip belonging to fome civilized nation, 

 which had been loft on their coafts. I re- 

 queued thefe favages to relate to us what they 

 knew on this fubjecl ; they immediately fet 

 fail to the weflward, promiiing to return next 

 day and to bring us back the information re- 

 quired ; but they did PiOt keep their word, and 

 we had not afterwards an opportunity of feeing 

 them. 



We v.ere informed, on our return^ that on 



the day we left the fliip to make the excurfion 



K 4 which 



