202 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



. ,,- .-vcral times 



durins: the following nif*^^ ,.^. -n , , .u 

 ^ .-,.0, v\'Tiichwe diltinguilned bythe 



/ight of a very new moon ; and, by our foundings, 



\; e were frequently in lefs than five fathoms water. 



It fell calm towards midnight, and we were 

 thus left at the mercy of the currents that drifted 

 us towards the coafl, on which were blazing 

 feveral fires kindled by the favagcs. 



As foon as the day dawned on the 20th, v.c 

 perceived at a diftance the Efperance, ftill 

 much nearer the land than we were, and with her 

 boats ahcnd towing. 



Prcfently the favages came in great numbers 

 alonglide of our fhip ; neverthelefs we could not 

 perfuade one of them to comx on board : an old 

 man had already quitted his canoe to comply 

 with our invitation, when he v/as diverted from 

 his intention by the others, who eagerly pulled 

 him towards them, as if they imagined that he 

 was expofmg himfelf to very great danger. 



We thought that we recognifed among thcfc 

 iflanders fome of thofe whom wc liad fccn two 

 days before. They were very inquifitivc to 

 know the name of the articles which we gave 

 them ; but what furprifed us much was, that 

 they rcquefted us to tell it in thcfc terms, poai 

 nmnciy an exprelnon which dillcrs little from 

 the Malay, apa niima^ (what's the name of 

 tliis?) Yet they did not undcrftand the people 



en 



