OP LA PEROUSE. $7$ 



feci the natives, who redoubled their entreaties 

 to make us land on their iiland. All the women 

 then advanced as far as the beach, and joined 

 their invitations to thole of the men : they were, 

 no doubt, greatly aftonifhed at not having better 

 fuccefs ; but the orders were given, and our boats 

 could not defer their departure. 



It was with regret that we quitted the 

 favages at the moment when they were launch- 

 ing into the water feveral canoes loaded with 

 cocoa-nuts, w r hich they were bringing us. The 

 delicious juice of thefc fruits would have been of 

 the greateft utility for flopping the progrefs of 

 the fcurvy, which was already beginning to make 

 ravages on board of our two fhips : had our 

 boats been allowed to wait a few minutes, we 

 fhould have procured a great number. 



The pleafure with which thefe iflanders re- 

 ceived nails and other articles of iron, and the 

 eagernefs which they dilplayed to obtain them, 

 proved to us that they were acquainted with this 

 metal. 



Thefe people fhewed at fir ft every appearance 

 of honefty; but they were not long in betraying 

 their inclination for theft, as foon as they were 

 almoft certain of committing it with impunity. 

 We had occafion to remark, that the oldefl of 

 them were the moft daring thieves. 



This little ifland, which is nearly of a circular 

 t x form, 



