CONTENTS. XI 



Variation of the magnetic needle. The time of 

 high water in the harbour on the days of the new 

 and full moon. We leave Port & ' Entrecafteaux 

 in order to pafs through the fir ait of the fame 

 name. Several fires. Natives feen on -the 

 teach. One of them fits fire lo the bufhes in 

 Jeveral places. We anchor in a very extenfive 

 fray, at the entrance of U Entrttujeauxs Strait. 

 ~Excurfion to the neighbouring country. Na- 

 tives furprifed clofe by the little fires where they 

 were preparing their food. The fir ait dij covered 

 )>y our boats, called D' Entrecafteaux s Strait. 

 We anchor in different parts of the channel. Ex- 

 curfions into the country fitua ted along its fhores. 

 A few natives crofs it in a catamaran. Furious 

 meetings with the favages. Departure from 

 D' Entrecafteaux s Strait - - - Page 136 



CHAPTER VI. 



Importance of D' Entrecafteaux* s Strait. Paffage 

 from Cape Dicmen to New Caledonia. We ex- 

 plore the fouth-weft coaft of New Caledonia. 

 Dangerous fitua tion of the Recherche quite clofe to 

 the rocks which fkirt this coaft. We fee the na- 

 tives by the feafide. Small Archipelago at the 

 ?wrthern extremity of New Caledonia. Prodi- 

 gious extent of the reefs. We get fight of the 

 Terre dts Arfacides and of the Treafury Ifiands. 



-Survey 



