OP LA PEROUSE. 45 



A heavy fwell from the fouth-eaft announced 

 winds from the fame quarter, which were blow- 

 ing at a diftance towards the equator, though, 

 however, north-eaft winds are more generally 

 obfcrved here at this feafon, when the fun is for 

 near two months in the tropic of Capricorn. 



A fhark, preceded by fome fifhes known by 

 the name of pilot-flfh (gaflerofleus duftor, Linn.), 

 came near the fhip and was caught : feveral 

 remoras, or fuck-fifh, thinking themfelves in 

 fafety becaufe they had fattened to the body of 

 tins animal, remained flicking to it for fome 

 time after it had been hauled in. 



As it was extremely hot, and the fea was very 

 fmooth, the defire of bathing getting the better 

 of every other confideration, Piron and Saint- 

 Agnan jumped overboard a few hours after, at 

 the rifk of becoming the prey of fome other 

 fhark. 



It had been calm almoft the whole day. 

 About eight o'clock in the evening, the fky, load- 

 ed with thick clouds in the fouth-eaft, threat- 

 ened us with a violent ftorm. The night was very 

 dark ; immediately a luminous column of great 

 extent iflued from beneath thefe clouds, and, in 

 its defcent, came and alighted on the furface of 

 the water: the fparkling fea was ftill fhaded 

 with many dark intervals, when all on a fudden 

 it appeared like a fheet of fire which was fpread- 



ing 



