OF LA PEROUSE. 151 



fear from the natives. IJowever, vvc arranged 

 matters fo that each of us fhould keep watch in 

 his turn, in order to be apprifed of their mo- 

 tions, in cafe any of them fhould pay us a vifit. 



The cold obliged us to abandon our hut, and 

 go and fleep near the fire. 



On the 28th, as foon as day appeared, we 

 went a mooting, to provide ourfelves a break- 

 faft : two of us in a very fhort time brought in a 

 crow and an oyfter-catcher. Thefe birds were 

 immediately broiled and eaten, as if they had 

 been a choice difh. 



It had been neceffary the preceding evening to 

 reduce ourfelves to a very moderate allowance, 

 in order to have fomething to live on next day ; 

 but we difcovered, when too late, that our pro- 

 vifions had been confided to unfafe hands : for 

 we found only four bifcuits out of fix, of which 

 our flock had confifted. A greater breach of 

 truft would have obliged us to return on board 

 immediately, and we fhould have had the mor- 

 tification of being deprived of the advantage of 

 extending our refearches farther. 



We were not long in reaching the banks of a 

 large lake, which communicates with the fea, by 

 an opening of about forty meters in width. Our 

 endeavours to ford it were fruitless ; it being too 

 deep towards the middle. 



l 4 Among 



