OP LA PEROUSE. 19! 



other inhabitants of the South Sea, and even 

 from the other favages of the eaft part of New- 

 Holland : a circumftance that would lcem to 

 aflign to them a different origin. 



They alfovleft behind feveral kangaroo-fkins, 

 and fome water-veffels. 



The two officers prevented the failors from 

 touching any of the effects of thefe natives ; they 

 took only for the Admiral a large and a fmall 

 bafket, a kangaroo's fkin, and a veffel made of 

 fea-weed, which held five quarts of water. The 

 fhape of the water-vefTel may be feen at the 

 bottom of Plate V. by the fide of the bafket. 

 The favages had no caufe to regret the lofs of 

 thefe different articles, for the officers left on the 

 lame fpot a few knives, feveral handkerchiefs, 

 fome bifcuit, fome cheefe, and an earthen jug, 

 too brittle, indeed, to be a proper fubftitute for 

 the water-veffel furnifhed them by nature. 



Thefe favages, although little encumbered 

 with their effects, fcattered fome of them from 

 time to time along their road. I know not whe- 

 ther this was to accelerate their flight, or to flop 

 the Europeans who were following them, by 

 thus exciting their curiofity. 



A boat from the Efperance had been to vifit a 

 cove, nearly a myriameter diftant to the weft ward. 

 The perfons fent on this fervice, had met with a 

 native, who, notwithstanding every fign offriend- 



fhip 



