OF LA PEROUSE. *$$ 



Our people went out regularly every evening 

 with the fcinc, and brought back a great quantity 

 of fifh. The meals which we got on board, 

 formed a very finking contraft with tliofe we had 

 been obliged to make on fhore. 



It may not be improper to mention, that al- 

 though the naturaliils averted their right to take 

 with them in their excursions the irefh provi- 

 sions to which they were entitled, they could not 

 obtain the fmallefl portion of them; fome bifcuit, 

 chcefe, brandy, and occasionally fait pork, Hill 

 continued to be our whole allowance. The 

 reafons which we alleged were fufficient to elta- 

 blifh our claim; but we were neverthelefs fup- 

 plied in the fame manner during all the voyage. 

 I fhould have abstained from mentioning this 

 fact, were it not that it may be of fome ufe to 

 naturalifls who embark on limilar expeditions* 



On the lftof May I went to the weft ward, 

 to the other fide of the harbour. The fhallow- 

 nefs of the bottom kept the boat at a considerable 

 cjiftance from the be^ch, fq that I was obliged 

 to get into the water to reach the fhore. 



I followed the coaft to the northward, occa- 

 iionally going into the woods. As it was low 

 water, it was eafy to keep along the fkirts of the 

 beach. Some hollows made in the fand in the 

 ihape of a funnel, concealed each a fmall glp- 

 bular crab, which had made this hole; and as 



foon 



