OP LA PEROUSE. 305 



We availed ourfelves of the calm to lioift out 

 a boat, in order to try the current, which then 

 fefc to the north-eaft by eaft, three quarters of a 

 mile an hour. As among thefe iflands the cur- 

 rents depend much on the tide, it may well be 

 conceived that their direction and their ftrength 

 vary exceedingly. 



On the approach of night we were about two 

 kilometers from the coaft of Ceram, the lefs 

 elevated lands of which feemed to announce 

 110 great depth of water ; however, on founding, 

 we could get no bottom at thirty-two fathoms. 



It was not long before we faw, pretty clofe to 

 the fhore, different fires, which appeared to us 

 kindled above the water by fifhermen, in order 

 to attract the fifh. 



Towards noon on the 2d, we faw the Ifland 

 of Bonfo, extending from weft 20 fouth to fouth 

 48 weft,, at the diftance of near four myriame- 

 ters. This ifland is in latitude 2 58' fouth, and 

 longitude 125 56' eafl. 



We took care to found very frequently when 

 we were near the land, but we could not ftrike 

 ground with a line of fixty-five fathoms. 



A flrong land breeze carried us, in the early 

 part of the night, into the channel which the 

 ifland of Ceram forms with that of Bonfo. We 

 there remarked three iflots by the light of a bright 



vol. 1. x moon. 



