VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



ralty Iflands, lies a principal ifland, whofe ex- 

 tent from fouth-weft to north-eaft is about three 

 myriameters. The iflots which furround it on 

 all fides, except to the fouth, arc very (mall and 

 very low. 



We were two kilometers to the northward of 

 thefe iflots, and to leeward of the northern 

 point of the great ifland, when we perceived 

 fome canoes under fail; they were behind the 

 reefs, between which we faw no break that af- 

 forded them the means of gaining the open fea, 

 and we thought that they could not clear this 

 barrier ; but having come quite clofe to it, the 

 lavages began by taking in their fail, and getting 

 into the water^ they carried their canoe over 

 thefe fhoals, in order to reach the offing. 



The canoe which led the way immediately 

 fleered towards us ; the others, five in number, 

 followed clofe after her. We hove to, in order 

 to wait for them ; but, as our people were rather 

 flow in their motions, the Efperance being aftcrn 

 of us, became the nearetl to them, and they 

 flood towards her : at firfl thefe favages kept at 

 about the difiaoce of two hundred meters from 

 her, after having difplayed much intelligence in 

 .the management of their fail. All the means 

 that were employed to attract them on board 

 were Q&lefg; they came near enough however to 

 throw upon deck a kw o( the fruits called fpon- 

 5 dins 



