OF LA PEROUSE, 295 



fupportcd by the outrigger and thf^ canoe, and 

 then to throw ftones with their flings, whle each, 

 wearing a fliield on his left arm, cnd-^avoured 

 to ward oft' the blows of his advcriliry ; how- 

 ever, they had feparated in ten ininufes, with- 

 out any one appearing to be dangeroufly hurt, 

 and had regained their refpeAive i (lands. 



The commander of the Efperance fcnt Ad- 

 miral D'Entrecafteaux a bludgeon and a 

 fhield, which he had procured from thefe 

 favages. 



The bludgeon was pretty broad, and flat at 

 one of its extremities. 



The fliield was the firft defenfive weapon 

 which we had remarked among the favage 

 naiions that we had hitherto vifited. It was of 

 very hard wood, and of the form that may be 

 feen in P/^/ ' XU. F/g. 7 and 8. It was near a 

 meter high, five decimeters and a half broad, 

 and a cenumctcr and a half in thicknefs. The 

 o. cfide was llightly convex- iowards the 

 mulaie of Fig. 8 which reprefents its infidc, 

 are feen three fmall jjieccs oT rvtan, b" means of" 

 which the na'.ives iix tiiis wzipon oa :he left 

 arm. 



Ttiefe iflandcrs, j.Lhpugh very numerous 

 alongfide the E-i'Cran:c, h .d e-ciciied no adt 

 of hwltilir. ; oiiV, v/.ic of " iCiii iiad fcjcined to 

 Willi to throw a uart m a niiin belonging to the 



u 4 fliip 



