OF LA PEROUSE. 273 



iron, which they preferred to every thing that 

 we could offer them. 



Like the natives of Bouka, they repeated with 

 much correclnefs the French words which they 

 heard us pronounce. 



One of their canoes, which was driven by the 

 fea againft our barge, received fome damage; 

 but inftantly a man belonging to our boat, 

 held the canoe, to prevent her from receiving a 

 fecond ftroke ; when one of the chiefs, miftaking 

 his intentions, cautioned the paddlers to be on 

 their guard, and moft of them precipitately 

 abandoned her, jumping overboard, to fvvim 

 on fhore to the ifland: they were almoft im- 

 mediately undeceived, and confidence was re- 

 eft abliihed. 



The women kept apart at a fmall difrance, 

 under the cocoa-nut trees : their whole clothing 

 confided of a piece of mat round the waift. 



The men were eager to get near our boats : 

 fome fwam off, holding up the cocoa-nuts which 

 they brought, others feemed attracted by mere 

 curiofity ; but it was very foon perceived, that 

 curiofity was not their only motive, as they exerted 

 all their dexterity to get poffefiion of our pro- 

 perty. Impunity augmented their andacioufnefs; 

 and when they miffed their aim, they were not 

 difcouraged, but prefently made a frefh attempt 

 on fome other article. 



One of thefe thieves had juft laid hold of a 



vot 1. , t knife j 



