OF LA PEHOUSE. 267 



On the morning of the 27th we got fight of 

 the Portland Iflands, along which wc ranged 

 very elofe. They form a group composed of lc- 

 ven iflots, which occupy a fpace of a myriameter 

 and a half in extent, in a direction from eaft 

 to weft. They are very flat, covered with 

 large trees, and, to all appearance, are con- 

 nected with each other by reefs and fand-banks. 



Thefe iflots arc in the latitude of 2 39/ 44" 

 fbuth, and longitude of 147 15' eaft. 



On the 28th we continued to direct our courfe 

 towards the Admiralty Iflands, where Commo- 

 dore Hunter, according to the account of two 

 French Captains, had thought that he perceived 

 fome veftiges pf La Peroufe's unfortunate expe- 

 dition ; and we flood to the fouthernmoft ifland 

 of this little Archipelago. Like the greater part 

 of the iflands in the South Sea, this is guarded 

 \yy reefs, at no great diftance from the fhore. 



Although we were only two kilometers from 

 the land, we found no bottom with a line of fifty 

 fathoms. 



We there faw to the fbuth-eaft a few canoes 

 going along between the reefs, but not one ap- 

 peared inclined to clear them to come out to us. 

 We alfo diftinguifhed fome groups of favages 

 flanding on the moft prominent points of the 

 coaft, in order to enjoy better the fight which 

 our fhips afforded them. 



A large 



