238 TOY AGE IN SEARCH 



what we bad hitherto Seen :. fine plantations of 

 cocoa- palms which lined the fhore, left us no 

 doubt rcfpecling its great population. 



Being at noon in latitude 5 43' 12" fouth, 

 aud longitude 15^ 3' 2b" caft, we obferved that 

 Bougainville's Ifland formed, with the iflots 

 which furround it, a bay of near three myria- 

 mcters in extent. The Admiral had an inten- 

 tion of anchoring in it : but fome fhoals dis- 

 covered in different points of its opening, and 

 a (and- bank towards its head, made him alter 

 his mind. 



Bougainville's Ifland is terminated by fome 

 very low land ; and we prefently difcovered the 

 extremely narrow channel which Separates it 

 from BouV.a Ifland. 



After having gained an offing, we continued 

 lying to during the whole night. 



The heat of the day had amaffed the electric 

 matter above the high mountains ; frequent 

 flafhes of lightning made us perceive their Sum- 

 mits, and the thunder roared with a horrible 

 noifc. 



During the night, the currents had carried us 

 upwards of twenty miles towards the north. 

 We were, a1 t< . k in the morning, a my- 



riameter to he northward of Bouka Ifland. The 

 vaft plantations of cocoa-nut trees which, fkirt 

 the fhore, announce a numerous population. 



A canoe, 



