OP LA PEROUSE. 259 



not extend fufTiciently inland to fill it : of this 

 it was eafy to be convinced by the ferenity of the 

 Iky towards the fouth-weit, while the rain was 

 falling without intcrmiffion at the anchorage. 

 Carteret's Harbour forms a fort of bafin, where 

 the clouds charged with water, after having 

 cleared the high mountains of New Ireland, ex- 

 perience a calm which prevents the air from fup- 

 porting them ; thence refult abundant rains, 

 which muft deprive navigators of all inclination 

 to anchor there. 



Among the fmall plants which grew in the 

 lhade of the forefts, I remarked feveral fpecies of 

 procris. 



Betides the nutmeg-tree, of which I have already 

 fpoken, nature has likewife given to the inhabit- 

 ants of New Ireland the fpecies of pepper-tree 

 known to botanifis under the name of piper 

 cubsbe. I faw it, throughout a very extenfive 

 fpace, adorning all the trunks of the large trees. 



Our boat was fent a fifhing about a myria- 

 meter to the fouth-eavl: on the coafl of New Ire- 

 land. I there faw a few huts newly conftructed 

 with much art by the favages : thofe had not, for 

 their meal, contented ihernfelves with the roafled, 

 fruit of the cycas cir emails : we frill perceived 

 quite clofeto thefe habitations, the remains of the 

 ihell-fim which they had eaten. 



The Admiral had come to Carteret's Harbour, 

 3 2 in 



