OF LA PER0USE. 63 



paffed under the meridian of Paris, in the lati- 

 tude of 33 ibuth. 



After having dipped Beaume's areometer 

 into fea-vvater, in order to afcertain its fpeci- 

 fic weight, I had 3-*, which affords the fame 

 remit as that I had already obtained in the 

 vicinity of the equator. It fhould therefore ap- 

 pear, that the faltnefs of fca-water differs not per- 

 ceptibly, even at great diftances in feas fo une- 

 qually heated by the rays of the fun. 



On the 9th of January we began to exercife 

 the crews of both fhips in firing with ball : a 

 prize of fmall value was the reward of thole who 

 hit the mark, which was fixed at the end of one 

 of the fore-top-maft fludding-fail booms. It was 

 obierved with pleafure, that moll: of them took 

 pretty good aim, although they had not been 

 in the leait habituated to fire-arms. It was not a 

 matter of indifference on fuch an expedition ,in 

 the courfe of which we might fometimes be 

 under the neceffity of defending ourfelves againft 

 the favages, that all mould know how to ufe the 

 arms that we had on board. 



The Captain of the Efperance having made 

 fort, to a buoy half of a very fine tunny, which 

 he was fending to the Admiral, the line did not 

 come near enough for us to reach it; a failor 

 jumped overboard, in order to fwim after it, 

 although it was known that a fhark had been 

 a caught 



