OP LA PEROUSE. 293 



We found ourfelves in the evening quite clofe 

 to the eafternmoft ifland of the little Archipelago 

 to which Bougainville has given the name of 

 JOEchlquier (Chefs-board). It is very low, and 

 only five myriameters to the weft fouth-weft of 

 the Hermits Iflands. Some reefs which bar the 

 accefs to it in the north- weft, form a large bafin, 

 where it appeared to us that a fhip would find 

 fufficient water to anchor. 



A great number of other iflands were feen 

 from the north to the weft. 



We carried little fail during the night, making 

 fhort boards, in order to keep to windward of 

 thefe iflands. 



At daybreak on the 3d, the eafternmoft ifland 

 of the Echiquier bore fouth, diftant a demi-my- 

 riameter: it lies in the latitude of i 29' fouth, 

 and longitude of 142 26' eaft. 



We then flood to the weftward, and, by eight 

 o'clock in the morning, we had reckoned thirty 

 fmall iflands from the eaft north-eaft to the 

 weft fouth-weft. 



We fleered towards that which feemed to us 

 the mod wefterly, and approached it within the 

 diftance of a demi-myriameter : it is fituated in 

 latitude i 34' fouth, and 14a 10' eaft. 



All thefe iflands are connected to each other 



by reefs, which feem to leave no paffage. Their 



lands are very low, and covered with lofty trees. 



u 3 As 



