OF LA PEROUSE. 220 



iflots, which fcrve them as a retreat, in order to 

 come and fly round us during almolt the whole 

 day. We had feen floating feveral trunks of co- 

 coa-nut trees, torn up hy the roots by the fea, 

 and drifted about at the mercy of the waves. 



When we brought to, at lix o'clock in the 

 evening, we founded in fifty-three fathoms, 

 over a bottom of fine fand, being then in the 

 latitude of 17 51' fouth, and longitude of 160 

 18' eaft. We remained for an hour on this 

 bank, where the lead being hove at different 

 times, gave us a depth of water of from fifty to 

 fixty-fix fathoms. 



We had therefore at length terminated our 

 furvey of a frightful chain of reefs, which are the 

 more dangerous to the northward, as they are 

 out of fight of all land : although they had 

 appeared to us interrupted to the northward of 

 New Caledonia, it is probable that they extend 

 and unite again too far to the eaftward for us to 

 have difcovered them. 



Thefe reefs, as is well known, are the work 

 of polypi ; and the danger which they prefent 

 is the more to be dreaded, as they form fleep 

 rocks covered by the water, and which cannot 

 be perceived but at a fhort diftance : if it falls 

 calm, and a fhip is drifted towards them by the 

 currents, her destruction is almofl inevitable ; 

 in vain would the crew^ attempt to Cave them- 

 a 3 ielves 



