OF LA PEROUSE. 187 



when the remains of a hut and fome heaps of 

 fhell-fifh let us know that this ifland was in- 

 habited. 



This was the firft time that we faw any par- 

 tridges at Cape Diemeh. We fprang a very large 

 covey, which went and fettled at a great diftance- 

 from us. \ 



It was late when we met with Citizen Riche. 

 He had fpent the night with the fifhermen. The 

 offer which he made us to partake the fruits of 

 his fport was gladly accepted ; he pointed out to 

 us a little fpring, where we enjoyed the pleafure of 

 quenching our thirft with very good water, at the 

 fame time eating excellent fifh and fome fhell- 

 fifh, which we broiled in the manner of the New 

 Hollanders. This repair, foon made us forfake 

 our fhip provifions. 



It was not long before we learnt that the com- 

 miflioned officers of the Recherche had agitated 

 the queftion, Whether the naturalifts mould pre- 

 ferve any right to the fupplies of frefh provifions 

 diftributed on board, while they were on fhore 

 collecting the articles which conftitutedthe object 

 of their miffion ? Good care had been taken not 

 to fummon them to fuch difcuffions : no one et- 

 poufed their caufe, and the' queftion was very 

 quickly decided againfr them, contrary to every 

 idea of.juftice. I mutt add that, notwithstanding 

 the changes that took place among the perfons 



who 



