OF LA PEROUSE. 1&] 



ufe them as our Tailors do their oars: the paddle 

 acts as a lever of the fecond clafs, the fulcrum. 

 of which is the gunnel of the canoe. A favage 

 placed near the Item fleers with his paddle. 



After having remained lying to till half pad 

 ten o'clock in the morning, we continued to fol- 

 low the coaft, which, in its direction towards 

 the weft, is confiantly bordered by iflots con- 

 nected to each other by reefs. We remarked 

 beyond thefe reefs feveral places for catching 

 fifh, made with flakes fixed in the water at a 

 certain diftance from the beach ; they refembled 

 thofe which we afterwards faw at the Moluccas. 



As foon as we had filled, the canoes made fail 

 in order to accompany us. We admired the ce- 

 lerity with which this flotilla fkimmed along the 

 water. Although it blew pretty frefh, thefe little 

 vefTels greatly outfailed our fhips. 



Quite clofe to a fi filing- pi ace, much larger 

 than thofe we had jufl feen, were feventeen ca- 

 noes, which immediately began to paddle to- 

 wards us. We brought to, in order to wait for 

 them ; but as, notwithstanding our invitations, 

 they kept at the difiance of a kilometer from the 

 fhip, we made fail again, fleering weft by fouth. 



At the clofe of the day two canoes put off 

 from the coafi, and directed their courfe towards 

 us. It was dark when they got within hail. One 

 of the chiefs immediately fpoke to us in a very 



loud 



